Toshikoshi soba is the traditional buckwheat-noodle meal eaten in Japan on New Year's Eve.
The name means “year-crossing soba,” and the dish is associated with the transition from the old year to the new one. It is commonly served in a hot broth, although regional and household versions vary. Toppings can include green onions, tempura, kamaboko, or other ingredients.
The noodles' length is often linked symbolically with longevity, while their ease of cutting is connected in popular explanations with cutting off the hardships of the past year. The meanings are cultural associations rather than a single strict religious rule.
Toshikoshi soba should not be confused with New Year's morning osechi ryōri, the collection of specially prepared foods eaten during the first days of the year. Customs differ by family and region, but soba remains a widely recognized December 31 food.