Mochi Pounding

Petan, Petan, Petan. That is the sound of mochi pounding (as any Japanese from preschool age on could tell you). Mochi is pounded sweet rice, and is as much a part of the end of the year and new year in Japan as turkey is part of Thanksgiving in the US.

Most of the preschools we work at have mochi pounding events at this time of year. The school I was at yesterday brought out their big wood mortar and mallets so all the kids could have a swing at it.

After the principal and I had done the initial mashing and pounding of the steamed rice, each of the kids got to swing the mallet for a few times, which can be pretty hard as the mallets are heavy and the rice is very sticky. But all the kids had a great time watching and cheering on the teachers and classmates as they pounded.

Later, for lunch, the kids got to taste the results of their labor with mochi in a special winter soup called ozoni and mochi wrapped around sweet bean paste.