Rice Porridge with Seven Herbs: The Hidden Mystery Behind a Traditional Dish
What is Rice Porridge with Seven Herbs?
On January 7th, Japanese families traditionally eat nanakusa-gayu, or “rice porridge with seven herbs.” This dish, made with white rice and the seven spring herbs—seri (Japanese parsley), nazuna (shepherd’s purse), gogyo (cudweed), hakobera (chickweed), hotokenoza (nipplewort), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (radish)—is thought to bring good health and ward off illness for the year ahead.
The custom has its roots in ancient Japan, serving as a way to rest the stomach after New Year’s feasts. It’s a peaceful, wholesome tradition.
But what if I told you that nanakusa-gayu isn’t always so innocent? In one quiet village, a strange story has been passed down—a story of herbs that bring more than just health to the table.
The Night of Chopping Herbs: A Growing Unease
Let me tell you about what happened to a family one winter night. It was January 6th, and they were preparing nanakusa-gayu together—just a typical father, mother, and their two kids, a boy and a girl. They’d bought a package of the seven herbs from the supermarket, lined them up on the cutting board, and started chopping.
“Here’s to a healthy year!” the father said, grinning as he raised the knife. The kids laughed and tried to help, and the mother smiled at the scene. It was one of those warm, ordinary moments you’d want to remember.
Then they heard it: a soft thud… thud… coming from outside.
At first, they thought it was just the wind. But the sound didn’t stop. It grew louder, steadier, and somehow closer. Curious, the father walked to the door and opened it.
No one was there.
But in the dim light, he spotted something unusual in the corner of their yard. A heap of herbs. Seven kinds, just like the ones they were chopping inside, but far more than anyone would ever need.
“Maybe a neighbor left this for us?” he muttered, unsure what else to think. He brought the herbs inside, laughing it off as a funny coincidence. “Extra luck for us, right?”
When they started chopping the new herbs, though, something strange happened.
The mother frowned. “Wait… didn’t I just cut this one?” She held up a sprig she was sure she’d already chopped.
The kids giggled nervously. But no matter how much they chopped, the pile of herbs didn’t shrink. If anything, the freshly brought herbs seemed to glow faintly under the kitchen light. They felt oddly warm, like they were alive.
Still, they added the herbs to the pot, thinking it was probably nothing. “Let’s finish it up tomorrow,” the father said, brushing off their unease.
The next morning, January 7th, the mother lifted the pot’s lid to finish the porridge. What she saw made her gasp.
The herbs were gone. In their place was a thick, black liquid. It bubbled slowly, almost as if it were breathing. Tiny bubbles formed on the surface, rising and falling in a way that felt disturbingly alive.
“What… is this?” she whispered.
Before anyone could answer, they heard it again: thud… thud… This time, the sound came from the window.
Everyone froze. A deep, low voice seemed to seep through the walls: “Not enough… still not enough…”
The father turned toward the window. Outside, in the gray morning light, a shadowy figure swayed back and forth. It didn’t look entirely human, and yet… there was something eerily familiar about its shape.
Later, they would learn of a local legend: the seven herbs must be gathered properly, with care and intention. If not, they could bring misfortune instead of blessings. The cost? It could be health, luck… or even the lives of loved ones.
What exactly had they brought into their home that night? And the black liquid—was it a warning? Or a price they had already paid?
When You Make Nanakusa-gayu
Nanakusa-gayu is a beautiful tradition, meant to bring health and harmony into the new year. But next time you prepare it, take a moment to look at each herb carefully. Are they what they seem to be?
And if, late at night, you hear a faint thud… thud… from outside, will you open the door?
What would you do?
This story is a work of fiction. Please enjoy it as entertainment and use it as an opportunity to learn about the fascinating traditions of Japanese culture.
Do you have any foods in your culture that are traditionally eaten on a specific date? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
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