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What is Mochi Pounding?

As my father was formerly a minister at a small Japanese Christian church in Santa Barbara, we attended a few mochi pounding events.  Stunning, amazing and fun to eat.  Mochi pounding for everybody!  The associate pastor, Takeshi Shiraishi, also attended and thoroughly enjoyed:)

Mochi pounding is a process of using sticky rice, a wooden stump, a large and durable bowl (durable to withstand thousands of enormous and heavy hits from modern day Samari worries, slaming a large wooden hammer on tiny bits of sticky rice).

Then each person involved, stands in line and slams the sticky rice that's located in the wooden bowl.  Extremely enjoyable and creates a real feel of community - something, to remember.

For several years attended mochi pounding events, and, of course, in true style (perhaps a bit different than the rank & file Japanese) stepped up to the proverbial plate and pounding the hell (perhaps some what literally) out of that damn mochi.

Mochi pounding, or mochitsuki as it's called in Japanese, is a fascinating tradition with historical and cultural significance. If you'd like to dive into it, I can share information in different ways:

Traditional method:

• Preparation: Learn about the process of soaking, steaming, and preparing the glutinous rice for pounding.

• Tools and techniques: Explore the use of the wooden mortar (usu) and mallet (kine), and the rhythmic chanting that often accompanies the pounding.

• Significance: Discover the role of mochitsuki in Japanese festivals and celebrations, like New Year's and harvest festivals.

Modern perspectives:

• Machines vs. manual pounding: Compare the use of modern mochi-making machines with the traditional method.

• Global variations: Learn about mochi-pounding traditions in other cultures, like Korea and Hawaii.

• Health benefits: Explore the benefits of glutinous rice and the physical activity involved in mochitsuki.

Interactive options:

• Watch videos: I can share links to videos showcasing the traditional mochi-pounding process and its variations.

• Recipes and tutorials: If you're interested in trying it yourself, I can provide recipes and instructions for making mochi at home.

• Fun facts: Let me surprise you with some interesting trivia about mochi and its cultural significance.

Just tell me what you'd like to know or experience, and I'll tailor my response to your interests!

Takeshi Shirashi, during college years, amongst many of the Japanes and international students celebrated pounding mochi, an ancient Japanese tradition.