Nikkei Mochitsuki 2024 celebrates a year-end Japanese tradition, December 29
The annual event invites people to take in the traditions, flavours, and entertainment of rice pounding
Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre.
Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre presents Nikkei Mochitsuki 2024 on December 29 from 11 am to 3 pm
OFTEN SERVED DURING THE New Year, Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from a sweet glutinous rice called mochigome that is steamed, pounded into a smooth dough, and molded into different shapes.
The traditional food takes centre stage at Nikkei Mochitsuki 2024, a community event at Vancouver’s Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre on December 29.
While the mochi found in grocery stores is typically commercially produced by machines, in Japan there are gatherings and ceremonies for preparing handmade mochi, and this is what will be happening at the free event.
First, makers mill steamed rice. Then one person rhythmically pounds the cooked rice with a kine, a large, heavy wooden mallet or pestle, while another person lifts and rotates the sticky, steaming rice that is turned into a big, stretchy mochi ball. Making large amounts this way can be physically tiring, so there are often several two-person teams involved.
The pounding-and-turning process yields a smooth, pliable rice dough and then the mochi rests. From there, the large mass is manually broken into pieces and shaped into round discs. Mochi can be consumed at this point; often it is sprinkled with potato starch to keep the pieces from sticking together.
Fresh mochi can be enjoyed with soy sauce and seaweed; grated daikon radish and soy sauce; or kinako (roasted soybean powder) and sugar. Frozen mochi can be grilled, microwaved, or added to soups. Some versions are stuffed with ice cream or red-bean paste.
At Nikkei Mochitsuki 2024, there will be a mochi-pounding demonstration. Plus, children and adults alike will be able to try their hand at pounding mochi themselves under the guidance of experienced practitioners, members of the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association.
Fresh and frozen mochi will be available for purchase at the gathering, which will also feature entertainment. At 11 am, Chibi Taiko will perform, followed by a showcase at 12:30 pm by Satsuki-Kai Dance. At 1:30 pm there will be a judo demonstration, and at 2:30 pm, Vancouver Okinawa Taiko will perform. 
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