The New Year’s Eve meal traditionally served in Japan with buckwheat noodles is called toshikoshi soba.
The Japanese phrase means “year-crossing soba,” and the noodles are commonly eaten on December 31. Their long, thin shape is associated with longevity, while buckwheat’s relative ease of cutting can symbolize leaving behind the hardships of the old year. Customs and toppings differ by region and household.
Toshikoshi soba is generally simpler than osechi ryori, the assortment of special foods eaten during the first days of the new year. It may be served in a hot broth with ingredients such as green onion, tempura, fish cake, or raw egg, depending on local practice.
The meal is usually eaten before or around midnight rather than being a formal universal countdown dish. Some people avoid finishing it after midnight because of the symbolism of carrying old troubles into the new year.