mochi pounding
Japanese Name:
餅つき
Romaji Name:
mochitsuki
Description
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Mochi-tsuki is the traditional Japanese ceremony of making mochi, or rice cakes, by pounding steamed glutinous rice. It is often done during New Year celebrations and other special events.
History
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Mochitsuki has been practiced in Japan for over 1,000 years, and it is deeply connected to Japanese New Year (Oshōgatsu) celebrations. Mochi itself is a sacred food in Shinto rituals and symbolizes good fortune, health, and prosperity.
The traditional mochitsuki process involves:
Steaming glutinous rice (もち米, mochigome).
Placing the hot rice into a large mortar called an usu (臼).
Pounding it rhythmically with a large wooden mallet called a kine (杵).
Turning and wetting the mochi between strikes — often done by a second person, requiring coordination and teamwork.
After pounding, the mochi is shaped into round cakes and eaten plain or with sweet or savory toppings like kinako (soybean flour) or anko (red bean paste).