Mochitsuki: A New Year's Tradition

In many Japanese American households and communities, an annual custom is mochitsuki -- the pounding of mochi or rice cakes, which is essential to the "Oshogatsu" or New Year's celebration. Mochitsuki is an all-day event which requires many hands, long hours, and physical labor, but is also a time of fellowship and socializing with friends and family.Mochitsuki begins the day before, with the washing of the mochigome (sweet glutinous rice) and leaving it to soak overnight in large kettles or tubs. Early the next morning the mochigome is ready to be steamed in the seiro -- wooden steaming frames. Three or four seiro are stacked one on top of the other and placed over a kettle of boiling water.

I am lucky to be here at Okinawa International Center to witness the 2008 Mochitsuki Celebration. I was told that participants who took part on this activity will be lucky (I wish).

Late in the afternoon, I was interviewed by a Japanese television staff regarding Mochitsuki experience and the output will be shown late in the evening today. I hope that my part will not be deleted...ha.ha.ha.