It is a Japanese custom to eat Nanakusa-gayu, a rice porridge with seven spring herbs, on January 7th.  The purpose of this specific meal on a specific day is to rest your stomach after New Year Holidays when we tend to eat a lot of festival dishes.  Also, this porridge is believed to bring health and luck for the new year.

Here is a good web page explaining about Nanakusa-gayu. http://www.toddswanderings.com/2011/02/nanakusa-gayu-japanese-porridge-or-congee-with-seven-herbs.html
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TODD’S WANDERINGS:
Nanakusa Gayu (Japanese Porridge or Congee with Seven herbs)

URL: http://www.toddswanderings.com/2011/02/nanakusa-gayu-japanese-porridge-or-congee-with-seven-herbs.html