Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu (Happy New Year)! This is the New Year greeting in Japan and is quite literally the first words said to each other in the New Year. It signifies congratulations and carries the hope of well-wishes on another safe, healthy and prosperous year.

As we celebrate the opening of 2026, we continue the fourth decade for Shiro’s Sushi and with it, the intention for the brightest road ahead! We look forward to a wonderful, delicious and event-filled year starting with winter fish, enjoying the mid-year World Cup in Seattle, and more!

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!

Winter Sushi Platter 2026

We celebrate the opening of the New Year with our Winter Sushi Platter that simply can’t be beat! Enjoy with 40 pieces of nigiri and gunkan-style sushi with this impressive platter to share with friends and family. We’ve even included festive fried shrimp heads on the platter, which signify wishes for a long, healthy life, with good fortune and happiness for the year ahead! Order for takeout to kick-off your 2026!

The dishes at the Sushi Bar

The dishes at the Sushi Bar bring a sense of seasonal festivity, with a special bowl of dashi soup and grilled Sawara (King Mackerel). They are served as part of the Sushi Bar Omakase.

The soup is made with housemade dashi broth, which we add grilled Kue (grouper) and matcha shiratama mochi, topped with sliced carrot and red daikon radish. The tradition of eating mochi during New Years in Japan evokes the feeling and spirit of the season. The chewy texture symbolizes strength and resilience, while the stickiness speaks to holding onto good fortune and prosperity. Enjoy the variety of textures and symbolism presented in this festive soup.

The grilled Sawara (King Mackerel) is served in the Yuan-yaki style, in which the fish is marinated in a soy sauce–based mixture of soy sauce, mirin (Japanese cooking rice wine), sake, and a touch of citrus, then grilled and finished with pan-fried negi (green onion) on top. Grilled food with negi is sometimes referred to as Namba-yaki, named for Namba, an area of Osaka, Japan that is an especially vibrant, bustling hub, and was once known for negi production a long time ago. Although Sawara is known as a spring fish, as expressed in its kanji character 鰆, winter Sawara is especially fatty and rich in flavor.

Pacific Rim – Solstice Vineyard Riesling 2017

Our prized, curated sake selection is ready to enjoy, but our wine list is also worthy of your next dinner at Shiro’s! When enjoying sushi, white wines pair particularly well with their higher levels of acidity and crispness. The profile of white wines cut through the rich, fattiness of fish to complement the delicate flavors, and in many cases, cleanse the palate for your next bite!

We are proud to bring the vineyards and winemakers of Washington to our wine list, serving it to guests who visit us from around the world! Pacific Rim is one such Washington wine, located in the Yakima Valley, the oldest wine-growing region (AVA) in the state. The winery’s focus on Riesling, particularly its Solstice Vineyard Riesling, pairs particularly well with white fish nigiri such as seabream, and seabass, given the wine’s well-balanced acidity, dry style and citrus nose. We are proud to include it and other Washington wines on our handpicked wine list.

Meaning of New Year’s Greeting

Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu (Happy New Year)
The Japanese expression “Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu” (あけましておめでとうございます) is a New Year’s greeting. In English, it is usually translated as “Happy New Year,” but the expression carries a sense of renewal, respect, and positive wishes for the coming year, which goes beyond the simple English greeting “Happy New Year.”

Akemashite means “the year opens,” and Omedetou Gozaimasu means “congratulations.” Thus, this phrase literally means congratulations on the opening of the new year.

In Japan, the New Year is a significant turning point rather than just a change in a date. It means we have safely welcomed a new year and show the respect to others. This greeting is used for the first meeting after the New Year until around 7th of January.

Akemashite Omedetou is also widely accepted, but used for more casual occasions, such as reserving for family and friends.

Share your #sushipics on Instagram + Facebook + Twitter for all #shirossushi fans to see.