【Masaaki-sama’s Sacred Word】Taking on the challenge of osechi* cuisine for the world of Miroku,let us go forward as Christian vegans this year too [*Osechi is traditional Japanese cuisine served during the New Year.] Happy New Year, everyone. I place importance on waking up early in the morning, but in the days before this New Year’s, the sound of Mami’s footsteps busily moving around in the kitchen replaced my alarm clock. She was making her completely vegan (no animal products whatsoever) osechi cuisine without any added sugars or sweeteners. With three children to care for, she cut back on her sleeping time for some consecutive days and woke up each morning between 1–2 am to prepare and offer each osechi dish one by one for New Year’s day. Although each dish looks simple, even I, her husband, am surprised at the meticulousness, attentiveness and care she puts into making and completing these dishes—the placement of a single sesame seed, the painstaking amount of time it takes to carve a carrot into a chrysanthemum. The labor involved in all these details that cannot be fully expressed in a recipe is, I believe, where the true “flavor” is. I am constantly reminding Mami about Meishu-sama’s Sacred Word on the Japanese Alps (how humans don’t need side dishes, they can live on rice alone), how meals should mainly consist of grains rather than accompanying dishes, and to go through great trouble to prepare those accompanying dishes is mistaken. Based on that, rather than tightly pack osechi dishes into the traditional tiered boxes as we normally see out in the world, Mami has actually lessened the amount of accompanying dishes and instead, made sure the salt and soy sauce flavors were boldly brought out in each dish. So even though it is osechi, in the end, it was prepared so that rice could be enjoyed as the main dish. (Said in Meishu-sama’s way, “The nutrition from grains is primary, and side dishes are secondary.” So nutrients from grains are most important, Meishu-sama!) Still more, she took advantage of the box’s empty space and arranged the dishes as if it were a painting. I am so happy that Mami and I could directly turn our thoughts to Meishu-sama’s will through osechi cuisine. And while it would be understandable to make a few dishes for osechi, Mami prepared New Year black beans, vegan datemaki, vegetables simmered in soy sauce, kelp rolls, stir-fried namasu (vegetables seasoned with vinegar), kuri-kinton (chestnut and sweet potato dessert), and even salt-simmered kumquats—each one made by hand. I am grateful to my wife. The actual tasting. The natural sweetness of vegetables, their texture, their earthy smell, the depth and aroma of sesame seed oil, and above all, the taste of soy sauce—there are no words that could fully express its deliciousness. Soy sauce. Oh, soy sauce! Soy sauce is Japan itself. I remember when I lived abroad, that just a little soy sauce on my tongue would immediately bring me back to my homeland. Here’s what I think: Soy sauce doesn’t exist for the sake of food, rather food exists for the sake of soy sauce. When I think about the umami from the juices that overflow from vegetables blending with soy sauce in my mouth, honestly, I can’t help but think, “Who needs meat or fish or cheese or eggs, anyway?” I must apologize now. I am sorry for indulging in so much self-praise. Osechi cuisine only comes once a year. Is there anything that beats the joy of sharing food with people you care about and saying, “This is so good!” or “This is amazing too!”? And this joy is only possible because Christ Jesus, as the Lamb of God, laid down his life for us. In other words, true osechi can only be vegan osechi that is absolutely free from the suffering of animals. And as long as Meishu-sama has determined that the diet of the world of Miroku is a vegan diet, osechi that does not use any animal products at all is the “osechi of the world of Miroku” and the form of osechi that Meishu-sama is wishing for—there is no room for argument here. In this new year too, together with Mami and all the members, I wish to give my all in the practice and spreading of the Christian vegan diet by World Church of Messiah built upon the atonement of Jesus Christ. These are the thoughts I had behind this year’s osechi cuisine.~~~~~ The essence of World Church of Messiah’s Japanese vegan diet is perfected here. Mami-okusama’s osechi—completely free of animal products and without any added sugars or sweeteners—is an exquisite work of art, the ultimate expression of Japanese vegan cuisine, and the food of the World of Miroku that brings about true health. As she worked on creating the osechi, Mami-okusama shared that whenever her family’s smiling faces came to mind, her hands naturally moved, and she felt the happiness of being able to prepare this for her family. She shared these heartfelt words: “Seeing my family eagerly eating, saying ‘so good, delicious,’ I felt strongly once again that all this happiness is thanks to Masaaki-sama’s guidance,” Let us also follow this precious example—her sincerity in attributing everything to Masaaki-sama. It is our honor to share with you the menu that Mami-okusama has graciously provided us.[Right photo]*steamed taro iwai-ni (shared in an earlier post).*steamed kabocha (Japanese pumpkin, shared in the vegan datemaki recipe) with checkered pattern. The checkered pattern with its regularly repeating shapes, symbolizes prosperity, growth and continuity.*simmered lotus root in flower shape. Lotus root with its holes is an auspicious food representing clear foresight. By shaping it like a flower, I included the meaning of brightness and hope.*vegan datemaki (shared in an earlier post)*simmered daikon radish and carrot in battledore shape. The battledore is an auspicious item that repels evil spirits. It also looks charming.*baked sweet potato in plum blossom shape.*simmered carrot in chrysanthemum shape. Chrysanthemums are considered auspicious flowers symbolizing longevity and good health.[Center photo]*kuri-kinton (chestnuts and sweet potato dessert). I mashed baked sweet potato made in an earthenware pot, passed it through a fine sieve and added sweet-simmered chestnuts to create a fluffy kuri-kinton.*black soybeans (shared in an earlier post)*salt-simmered kumquats. I made it using these golden-shining fruits with the wish for abundance and health. I finished them with salt in an earthenware pot without adding a single drop of water. You can taste the natural sweetness of the kumquats as they are.*stir-fried namasu (vegetables seasoned with vinegar) with daikon radish, carrot and lotus root. The red and white (celebratory colors) of daikon and carrot, plus lotus root that symbolizes seeing ahead. By stir-frying, you can enjoy a crisp, crunchy texture.[Left photo]*carrot and kuruma-fu (wheat gluten) kombu rolls. Kombu is an auspicious food associated with “yorokobu” (to rejoice). The ring-shaped kuruma-fu means connection and harmony. The red color of carrot represents protection from evil and also celebration. I included the wish that the new year be wonderful and filled with joy.*soy sauce simmered daikon radish in plum blossom and fan shapes.*soy sauce simmered carrot in plum blossom and fan shapes. Plum blossoms bloom in the harsh cold, so they symbolize overcoming difficulties and moving toward bright hope. The fan shape represents “suehirogari” (expanding prosperity). I included the wish that the new year be filled with hope and great expansion.*steamed kabocha in pine and bamboo shapes. Pine symbolizes longevity and unchanging strength. Bamboo represents growth, reaching straight upward. This is the steamed kabocha I introduced when making the vegan datemaki batter.*sweet-simmered chestnuts (kanroni), completely sugar-free. I brought out the deliciousness of the chestnuts with the sweetness of apple juice and the power of salt.~~~~~ With utmost reverence and humility, we are able to begin 2026 with Masaaki-sama’s Sacred Word and photographs of Mami-okusama's extraordinarily beautiful vegan osechi—truly the best possible start for our Church. This brings us immeasurable joy. We express our heartfelt gratitude to Masaaki-sama and Mami-okusama. Through Masaaki-sama’s Sacred Word, my reverence for Mami-okusama’s unimaginable daily efforts deepened even further. And the profound words“Food exists for the sake of soy sauce”completely transformed my understanding of soy sauce. The culmination was the following Sacred Word:“In this new year too, together with Mami and all the members, I wish to give my all in the practice and spreading of the Christian vegan diet by World Church of Messiah built upon the atonement of Jesus Christ. These are the thoughts I had behind this year’s osechi cuisine.” This filled my heart with excitement and expectation for the further advancement of this year’s divine work. Let us all move forward together, carrying this sacred guidance received at the New Year in our hearts, advancing the practice and spread of the vegan diet—the true salvation that has received the atonement of Christ Jesus!