| Kamaboko: | A fish paste roll on a board, usually white surrounded by white or red/pink paste. Symbolizes sunrise and the coming of the New Year. |
| Kurikinton: | Sweet chestnuts (kuri) and sweet potato. Kuriageru (a different kanji and play on words) means to move up in life and work. Kinton also means treasure (kin = gold and ton = group) |
| Kuromame: | Black beans. Mame means hard working and also stands for bodily strength and health. |
| Kazunoko: | Prepared herring roe, yellow and tough. The many roe symbolizes to treasure all Children. |
| Lobster: | Symbolizes old age because of its crooked back - wishing old age to all dear friends. Many say that the lobster together with bitter orange hung onto the front door during New Year means "luck to you in growth on land, and strength on sea." |
| Namasu: | Vinegary radish and carrots, cut into thin strips. It implies Celebration, one of the oldest traditional dishes in Japan. |
| Seaweed: | In Japanese called kombu, the symbol for happiness and joy. |
| Tazukuri: | Sweet sardine. Symbolizes abundant harvest, also known as Gomame. |
| Datemaki: | From it's resemblence to the scroll, it symbolizes civilization. |
| Tai (Red Snapper): | Homonym to Medetai, meaning celebration. |
| Nishiki Tamago (Egg): | The two colors of the Yolk and White symbolizes Gold and Silver of the Nishiki. |
| Sato (taro) Potato: | The Sato Potato makes a lot of small potatoes, symbolizing children. |
| Dai-dai (Japanese citrus): | Homonym to dai-dai (generations), symbolizing success for generations to come. |
