Guide to Nanakusagayu: Japanese Seven-Herb Rice Porridge (七草粥)

目次（Table of Contents）

日本の七草粥（Nanakusa-gayu “Seven-Herb Rice Porridge”）
七草 (Seven Herbs): Seri, Nazuna, Gogyo, Suzuna, Suzushiro, Hotokenoza, Hakobera

日本の七草粥（Nanakusa-gayu “Seven-Herb Rice Porridge”）

七なな草くさ粥がゆ

七なな草くさ粥がゆとは、松まつの内うちの最さい後ごの日ひである1いち月がつ7日なのかに、無む病びょう息そく災さいや立りっ身しん出しゅっ世せを願ねがって食たべるお粥かゆのことです。

Nanakusa-gayu is a traditional rice porridge eaten on January 7th, the final day of the New Year holiday period, to wish for good health and success in the coming year.

七草 (Seven Herbs): Seri, Nazuna, Gogyo, Suzuna, Suzushiro, Hotokenoza, Hakobera

七なな草くさ粥がゆの「七なな草くさ」は、芹せり、薺なずな、御ご形ぎょう、菘すずな、蘿すず蔔しろ、仏ほとけの座ざ、繁はこ縷べらの七なな種しゅ類るいです。

The seven herbs in nanakusa-gayu are Seri, Nazuna, Gogyo, Suzuna, Suzushiro, Hotokenoza, and Hakobera.

●芹せり：水みず辺べの山さん菜さいで香かおりがよく、食しょく欲よくが増ぞう進しんします。

　Seri(Japanese parsley): A waterside wild vegetable with a pleasant fragrance that stimulates the appetite.

●薺なずな：別べっ称しょうはペンペン草ぐさ。江え戸ど時じ代だいはポピュラーな食しょく材ざいでした。

　Nazuna (Shepherd’s purse): Also known in Japan as “Penpengusa.” It was a common ingredient during the Edo period.

●御ご形ぎょう：別べっ称しょうは母はは子こ草ぐさ。風か邪ぜ予よ防ぼうや解げ熱ねつに効こう果かがあります。

　Gogyo (Cudweed): Also known as “Mother-and-child grass.” It is traditionally believed to help prevent colds and reduce fever.

●菘すずな：蕪かぶのことです。ビタミンが豊ほう富ふです。

　Suzuna (Turnip): A vegetable rich in vitamins.

●蘿すず蔔しろ：大だい根こんのことです。消しょう化かを助たすけ、風か邪ぜの予よ防ぼうにもなります。

　Suzushiro (Daikon radish): It aids digestion and is believed to help prevent colds.

●仏ほとけの座ざ：別べっ称しょうは田た平びら子こ。タンポポに似にていて食しょく物もつ繊せん維いが豊ほう富ふです。

　Hotokenoza (Nipplewort): Also known as “Tabirako.” It resembles a dandelion and is rich in dietary fiber.

●繫はこ縷べら：目めに良よいビタミンＡが豊ほう富ふで、腹ふく痛つうの薬くすりにもなります。

　Hakobera (Chickweed): It is rich in vitamin A, which is good for the eyes, and has traditionally been used to help relieve stomach aches.