Taipei: Representatives to Taiwan from the United States and Japan recently showcased signature New Year dishes from their countries, including Japanese mochi (rice cakes) and Kentucky bourbon, as Taiwan prepares to welcome the Year of the Horse on the lunar calendar. Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Raymond Greene, and Kazuyuki Katayama, chief representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association's Taipei Office, presented foods commonly eaten in their countries to celebrate the New Year at a press event held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) headquarters in Taipei.
According to Focus Taiwan, Katayama, the de facto Japanese ambassador to Taiwan, noted that unlike Taiwan, which celebrates the Lunar New Year, Japan observes the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar on January 1. He introduced iconic Japanese New Year foods such as soba noodles, symbolizing longevity due to their length, and omochi, which represents longevity because of its stretchy texture. The Japanese envoy prepared three kinds of omochi: isobe yaki (grilled mochi dipped in soy sauce and wrapped in dried seaweed), kinako mochi (glutinous rice cakes coated with roasted soybean powder), and zenzai (sweet red bean soup with mochi).
Greene, the top U.S. envoy to Taiwan, presented an "American plate" featuring snacks like apples, cheeses, and Kentucky bourbon to introduce American New Year foods. He explained that Americans generally view Thanksgiving and Christmas as more important family gatherings than the New Year. During New Year celebrations, Americans typically spend time with close friends, enjoying wine and snacks. Greene highlighted Blanton's single-barrel bourbon from Kentucky, emphasizing its smooth, sweet taste and its connection to the Kentucky Derby, which makes it suitable for marking the Year of the Horse.
Lin invited young Taiwanese farmers to introduce dishes made with local agricultural products for Lunar New Year reunion meals. This event, held for the second time since Lin took office in May 2024, aims to promote Taiwanese agricultural products internationally. This year, the participation of American and Japanese envoys symbolizes the close trilateral ties between the nations, according to MOFA.