chestnuts are the base of kurikinton, which can look something like yellow mashed potatoes.Kamaboko, a dense cake of fish paste, is red and white (traditional New Year's colors). You can often find thin slices of this on your soba.Another red-and-white food you'll find is called namasu - typically daikon and carrots pickled in vinegar.For vegetables, look for gobo (burdock root), often dressed with sesame. Also lotus root, carrots, shiitake mushrooms and pea pods.Konnyaku (devil's-tongue starch) and fu (wheat gluten) will also be sprinkled throughout the stacked boxes.For seafood, shrimp (representing long life) and sea bream (for auspicious fortune) are most typical.