Mochitsuki: A Japanese New Year's Tradition

Around the start of the New Year, many Japanese households will take part in the annual tradition of mochitsuki (餅つき), the pounding of rice to make mochi. Mochi, also called a rice cake, is pounded sweet rice that can be eaten in a sweet or savory dish.

I went to my old Principle's wife's parent's house to partake in this tradition at the end of December. We perform it yearly and although it's freezing cold, the rewards of eating it after are well worth the effort of smashing the rice non-stop for two hours.

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