Different Traditions, Same Human Instinct

January 2 in Japan feels strangely familiar to me. Not because of the food, but because of the rhythm of the day.

Yesterday was New Year’s Day. Family. A lot of food. More than anyone could reasonably finish. Today, we are eating leftovers. Osechi ryori, sushi, sashimi and more. No cooking, no planning. Just opening the fridge and thinking.

It reminds me of Boxing Day.

In many Western countries where Christmas is celebrated, Christmas Day is the big event. The table is full. Food prepared with care, enthusiasm, and a clear lack of portion control. The day after is quieter. Leftovers from Christmas dinner return. The same food, just without the ceremony and with slightly looser trousers.

Different countries. Different holidays. Different food.

Same instinct.

We gather. We prepare too much. We sit together longer than usual. And then, the next day, we slow down and live off what remains.

In Japan, osechi is intentionally made to last several days. In the West, leftovers simply happen. Different planning styles, same outcome. A pause. A soft landing after celebration.

January 2 is not an exciting day. It is a day of continuation.

Living in another culture, you expect everything to feel different. And on the surface, it does. But underneath, the patterns repeat themselves. Food becomes the bridge. Not through taste, but through behavior.

Today, my wife and I don’t have to think about what to eat. The food is already there. Yesterday is still doing some of the work for us.

Different traditions. Same human rhythm.