Traditional New Year porridge served in Tokyo

Farmers in Tokyo served traditional rice porridge with 7 spring herbs for 1,000 diners on Thursday.

January 7th is the day many people in Japan eat the dish to pray for good health in the New Year.

A group of farmers in northern Tokyo organized the event. The farmers cooked 120 kilograms of vegetables and 30 kilograms of rice for about an hour to prepare the porridge. Five huge pots were mobilized, each measuring one meter in diameter.

The porridge was cooked according to a recipe handed down among local farmers. It includes locally-produced taros and carrots as well as rice cake to make the dish sweeter.

The porridge was served free of charge, and all 1,000 servings were gone in just one hour.

A fifth grader who lives in the neighborhood said that the porridge was delicious, with a nice taste of vegetables.