Mochi Pounding (Mochi Tsuki)

Reiko's cousin Mariko and her husband Peter arrived in Japan last Tuesday so Reiko and I went with them to pound some Mochi at a nearby event that was taking place.

Mochi is a kind of soft food which is traditionally made from rice which is pounded with a large wooden hammer. The pounding action is much like kneading dough so on person has to knead the mochi while another pounds it.

Sometimes very showy people pound it very fast and as the one kneading has to touch the mochi in between hits it can be a bit dangerous.