Every New Year in Japan, people eat osechi, the dishes packed into tiered boxes for the first days of the year. I started to wonder: if someone in my family were vegan, could we still enjoy osechi together? That question set me looking for vegan osechi. When I searched, I found boxes labeled “shojin” and “vegetarian” alongside “vegan.”
But some osechi include dishes named “shojin” that are made with egg or whey. Below, I look at osechi you can order in late 2026 for New Year 2027. I sort out what each label leaves out, then introduce five boxes I chose from five angles. I’ve noted what I could confirm, and also what I couldn’t.
This article contains affiliate links (PR). The information is based on what I confirmed on each seller’s website and product pages between October 11 and 13, 2026. Prices and order deadlines can change, so check the seller’s page before you order.
Quick summary: choose by what matters to you
- Plant-based stock, tooKenkoshoku Kobo Takano, Midorie
- No honeyKenkoshoku Kobo Takano
- Knowing how the kitchen and frying oil are handledMidorie, WiLLD
- Vegetables from farms you can nameWiLLD, Kenkoshoku Kobo Takano
- Less single-use stuffWiLLD
- A small householdMidorie
- Shojin cooking with no meat or fishIzusen
- You eat eggs and dairySaishoku Kenbi
The same box can fit more than one of these priorities.
Selection criteria
I confirmed this information on each seller’s website and product pages between October 11 and 13, 2026. For each box, I looked at how six things are handled: stock, eggs, dairy, honey, frying oil, and shared kitchens. My standard was whether I could confirm each point on the seller’s own website. If a box isn’t listed here, that doesn’t mean the seller isn’t doing these things.
- Cutting food wasteIs it made to order? Can you choose an amount that fits your household? Is the expiry date stated?
- Cutting wasteDoes the page say whether the boxes and extras are single-use?
- Who makes itDoes the page say who makes it and where? Is that information from the maker, not just a retailer?
- Where the food comes fromDoes the page say where the main ingredients are grown?
- Honest informationDoes the page show how it handles stock, eggs, dairy, honey, frying oil, and shared kitchens? Does it list ingredients dish by dish?
Almost none of the pages said what the boxes are made of or whether they can be reused.
This article also answers these questions:
- What should I check on the order page before I order?
- If a box says “shojin” or “vegetarian,” is it free of animal products?
- Is there a rule for labeling food “vegan”?
- Does a vegan certification mark mean a separate factory?
Osechi that say they use no animal ingredients
1. Kenkoshoku Kobo Takano Plant-Based Shojin Osechi
No animal productsNo honeyMostly local vegetablesKanazawa, Ishikawa
- Best forPeople who want to avoid honey too
- LabelPlant-based shojin
- AmountAbout 4 servings, 20+ dishes (one size only)
- Delivery & best-byChilled, arrives December 31; best by January 2
- AllergensSoy, sesame, wheat
- Stock & kitchenPlant-based stock (“as a rule” in one place); kitchen handling not stated
Kenkoshoku Kobo Takano is a small kitchen in Kanazawa, where the owner, Yasuyuki Takano, makes this osechi alone. The page says, in my translation, “We use no animal ingredients at all, including fish, meat, eggs, butter, dairy, and honey.”
Vegetables are mostly local, and other ingredients come from the natural food suppliers Ohsawa Japan and Muso.
Editor’s note
This box calls itself “shojin” and still says it uses no honey. Whether you’re looking for shojin or vegan, the page answers what you need to know.
What I could confirm
- States that it uses no honey
- Says the stock is free of animal products too
- Uses mostly local vegetables and names its suppliers
What I couldn’t confirm, and cautions
- One line says no animal ingredients are used at all, stock included. Another line about stock adds “as a rule”
- The page doesn’t say whether the kitchen also handles animal products, or what the box is made of
- Ships within Japan, to areas a parcel can reach by December 31
See Kenkoshoku Kobo Takano’s order page
Of the pages I checked, this was the only one to say how it handles honey.
2. Midorie Additive-Free Organic Vegan Fresh Osechi, Two Tiers
No animal productsSeparate frying oilIngredients listed by dish2–3 servings
- Best forSmall households who care about frying oil too
- LabelVegan
- Amount2–3 servings, two tiers
- Delivery & best-byChilled, arrives December 31; best by January 1, 2027
- Stock & kitchenVegetable stock and vegetable bouillon; separate frying oil for vegan dishes
Midorie is an organic restaurant, and this is its chilled fresh osechi. The page says, in my translation, “It’s completely free of animal foods, and we keep separate frying oil for vegan use.”
The datemaki (a sweet rolled omelet in regular osechi) is made with organic squash and tofu. The matsukaze-yaki uses wheat-protein vegan meat. Each dish comes with its ingredients and allergens.
The same osechi is also sold on Kodawariya’s osechi page.
Editor’s note
You can check, dish by dish, what goes in and what doesn’t. Two to three servings suits a small New Year table.
What I could confirm
- States that it keeps separate frying oil for vegan dishes
- Lists ingredients and allergens for each dish
- Two to three servings, easy for a small household to finish
What I couldn’t confirm, and cautions
- The tempeh nanbanzuke (a marinated fried dish) lists only “stock,” without saying what kind
- The page’s mention of wild fish and free-range eggs describes the restaurant as a whole
- It uses onion and garlic, so it isn’t for you if you want shojin food without gokun, the five pungent vegetables like onion and garlic
- The deadline differs by seller
Of the boxes I looked at, it was the only one to mention frying oil.
3. WiLLD Vegan One-Tier Box
Vegan boxPesticide-free partner farmsNo single-use extrasKanagawa
- Best forPeople who want vegetables from farms they can name, and less waste
- LabelVegan
- AmountOne tier (servings not stated)
- Delivery & best-byArrival date, and whether chilled or frozen, not stated
- AllergensWheat, soy, nuts
- KitchenMade in a kitchen that also handles animal products
WiLLD (Tula Inc.) ships its osechi from Kanagawa. For New Year 2027, it offers three boxes. There’s a vegan one-tier box, a two-tier box with one special tier and one vegan tier, and a special one-tier box. If you only want the tier called vegan, order the one-tier box.
The vegetables are pesticide-free and come from partner farms: Noen Koeru in Chigasaki, uramichi in Oiso, Harmony Batake in Ashigara, and Nijiiro Batake in Nakai. As before, it doesn’t pack disposable chopsticks or paper plates.
Editor’s note
WiLLD tells you the inconvenient part up front. Its kitchen also handles animal products, and the page warns people with severe allergies to take care.
What I could confirm
- Names its partner farms and their towns
- Doesn’t pack disposable chopsticks or paper plates
- Says up front that its kitchen also handles animal products
What I couldn’t confirm, and cautions
- The page says prices were revised for 2027 but doesn’t list them
- It doesn’t say when the box arrives, whether it’s chilled or frozen, or how many it serves
- Because the kitchen is shared, people with severe allergies need to take care
Its order page tells you up front about its partner farms, their towns, and its shared kitchen.
Osechi labeled “shojin” or “vegetarian”
4. Saishoku Kenbi Musubi Two-Tier Osechi
Some dishes use egg and dairyAll ingredients listedDishes named for their originNakatsugawa, Gifu
- Best forPeople who eat eggs and dairy but skip meat
- LabelVegetarian
- Amount5 servings, two tiers
- Delivery & best-byChilled, arrives December 31 (January 1 for Hokkaido, Tohoku, and Kyushu); keeps seven days from production
- StockWhat goes into the Japanese-style stock and seasoning isn’t stated
Saishoku Kenbi (菜食健美) sells this vegetarian osechi with no meat on Rakuten. It’s made by Daisho Kikaku in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, and the handmade dishes arrive chilled. Some dishes carry place names, like Nakatsugawa chestnuts in syrup and Tanba black beans.
The ingredients are listed for every dish. Seven dishes, including the datemaki and shumai, use egg. Whey protein or butter goes into both vegan-chicken dishes and the “shojin” swordfish.
Editor’s note
This box isn’t vegan. It suits a New Year table for people who eat eggs and dairy but skip meat. Every dish’s ingredients are listed, so you can make that call yourself.
What I could confirm
- Lists the ingredients of every dish
- Some dishes carry place names, like Nakatsugawa chestnuts and Tanba black beans
- Names the maker and where it is based
What I couldn’t confirm, and cautions
- Many dishes list Japanese-style stock or seasoning, and the label doesn’t say whether they contain fish stock or extract. If you don’t eat fish, ask the seller before you order
- There’s also a one-tier box for two, “Yorokobi,” but I couldn’t confirm its ingredients
ポチップ
A vegetarian box whose full ingredient list lets you see for yourself where egg and dairy are used.
5. Izusen Shojin Osechi, Two Tiers
No meat or fish32-dish menuPickup at the main shop2-serving size too
- Best forPeople who want shojin cooking with no meat or fish, chosen from the menu
- LabelShojin
- AmountTwo tiers (4 servings) or one tier (2 servings)
- Delivery & best-byArrives December 31, or pick up at the main shop; best by January 1
- AllergensWheat, sesame, soy, Japanese yam
- Stock, egg & dairyNot stated
Izusen sells this shojin osechi through its online shop. The page says, in my translation, “We’ve made an osechi that feels hearty even without meat or fish.” The two-tier menu lists 32 dishes, including Rikyu tofu, three-color yuba rolls, glazed yuba, and mustard-stuffed lotus root.
If you live outside Kyoto, Uji, Muko, and Nagaokakyo, Izusen points you to a separate store, the Izusen mail-order store. The two-tier box of the same name there doesn’t list its menu or allergens, so I can’t tell whether it’s the same box.
Odakyu Department Store also sells a “Daitokuji Izusen Shojin Osechi.” The order pages don’t show whether it’s the same as the one on Izusen’s shop. If you buy from Odakyu, check before you order.
Editor’s note
The maker’s own page tells you it uses no meat or fish, and lists the menu and allergens. The earlier version of this article featured it too.
What I could confirm
- States that it uses no meat or fish
- Lists its menu (32 dishes) and allergens
- Also comes as a one-tier box for two
What I couldn’t confirm, and cautions
- The page doesn’t say what the stock is made from, or whether any dish uses egg or dairy. Egg and dairy aren’t in the allergen list, but it’s safest to ask about them, along with the stock, before you order
- It doesn’t say whether the box is chilled or frozen
- The official shop delivers free only to Kyoto, Uji, Muko, and Nagaokakyo
ポチップ
A shojin osechi whose menu and allergens you can check on the maker’s own page.
Three things to check on the order page
Decide first what you want to avoid. Then look for these three things on the seller’s page. If they aren’t there, ask the seller before the order deadline.
| What to check | Why | What I found |
|---|---|---|
| What the stock is made from | If a page only says wafu dashi, you can’t tell whether it’s made from fish | Some sellers wrote “vegetable stock” for each dish. Others only wrote wafu dashi |
| Whether it uses eggs, dairy, or honey | “Vegetarian” boxes may use eggs and dairy. Few pages mention honey | Only one seller said it doesn’t use honey |
| Whether the kitchen and frying oil are kept separate | If you have an allergy, this matters most | One seller said it keeps them separate. Another said up front that it doesn’t |
Check the amount, too. Most of the chilled boxes I looked at were best eaten by January 1 or 2. Order more than your household can eat, and the rest goes in the bin.
All of these sellers deliver within Japan. None of the pages I checked mention ordering in English or shipping overseas.
Does “shojin” or “vegetarian” on the box mean no animal products?
Not necessarily. What these labels leave out is decided by each seller, and the words alone won’t tell you.
Shojin ryori is the vegetarian cooking of Japanese Buddhist temples. Osechi sold as “shojin” borrow that name.
Dishes called “shojin” can still contain egg or dairy
Saishoku Kenbi’s two-tier box, introduced above, is sold on Rakuten as “vegetarian.” I went through its ingredient list dish by dish. None of the dishes use meat. Seven of them use egg, though, and some use whey protein or butter.
Among them are “shojin” swordfish rolled in kombu, “shojin” meatballs, and “shojin” tsukune. The word “shojin” in a dish name may mean no meat or fish. It doesn’t mean no egg or dairy.
Many dishes also list wafu dashi (Japanese-style stock) or Japanese-style seasoning. The ingredient list doesn’t say what goes into them.
No labeling rule in Japan defines “vegan”
Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency publishes a Q&A on labeling plant-based foods. The word “vegan” doesn’t appear on that page.
The Q&A covers how to list ingredients and how to avoid misleading claims. For example, if you want to say a product is plant-based except for its additives, it suggests wording like “The ingredients are plant-based (excluding food additives).”
If the same factory makes products with beef, the Q&A says it’s “desirable” to note that. It isn’t required.
A vegan certification doesn’t promise a separate factory
The NPO Vege Project Japan runs a vegan certification. It describes its mark as the vegan mark most used on products in Japan. Its standard goes as far as checking that sugar wasn’t whitened with bone char. It traces the ingredients of ingredients.
It does allow production in a factory that also handles animal products, on two conditions. The product must say so if cross-contact can happen, and the maker must take steps to prevent it. I couldn’t find anything about allergies in the standard.
A 2023 study in Canada tested foods labeled “vegan” or “plant-based.” Milk protein turned up in 5 of the 87 samples tested for it. None of the 64 samples tested for egg had any.
This wasn’t a study of osechi or of products sold in Japan. Still, it shows that a vegan label and allergy safety are two different things.
Final thoughts
On an osechi box, “vegan,” “shojin,” and “vegetarian” don’t tell you, on their own, what’s been left out. What I’d like you to take away is three things to check on the order page. Look at the stock, at eggs, dairy, and honey, and at the kitchen.
If there’s a box you’re considering, open its ingredient list today. If it isn’t there, you still have time to ask before the deadline.
For everyday vegan eating in Japan, see What do vegans eat?
What would you most want to leave off your own New Year table?
