What is the traditional New Year's Eve meal called toshikoshi soba in Japan made from?

Toshikoshi soba is a Japanese New Year's Eve dish made from buckwheat noodles. The name means “year-crossing soba,” and eating it on December 31 is a widespread custom associated with leaving the old year behind and entering the new one.

The noodles are usually served in a hot broth, with toppings that vary by region and household. Their long, slender shape is linked symbolically with longevity, while buckwheat's ease of cutting has been associated with severing difficulties from the previous year.

The custom is not the same as eating mochi, the sticky rice cake strongly associated with New Year's celebrations in Japan. Toshikoshi soba is generally eaten on New Year's Eve, while mochi and osechi ryōri are especially connected with New Year's Day and the broader holiday period. Recipes and serving styles differ widely.