MOCHITSUKI (the pounding of rice cakes)
A popular annual winter event in Japan is "mochitsuki" (the pounding of rice cakes).
It requires many hands, long hours, and physical labor.
After soaked overnight, the glutinous rice is cooked
in the wooden frames which placed over a kettle of boiling water.
Mochitsuki / ivva
The hot cooked rice is pounded with a wooden mallet in a wooden mortar.
Two people will alternate the work; One pounding, and the other turning and wetting the rice.
When it becomes smooth (with no discernible individual grains of rice),
the mass of rice cake is then quickly formed into small portions.
The rice cake is eaten with several toppings.
starting from the left...
Sweet bean paste
Soybean flour mixed with sugar
Grinded sesame mixed with sugar
Soy sauce and wrapped in dried laver
Grated radish and soy sauce
Freshly pound rice cake is extremely delicious than store-bought one.
So this is a traditional winter event that is still popular today in Japan.