Making Mochi

Day in the countryside today and one of the highlights was getting to swing this great big hammer to pound the cooked rice in order to make Mochi. Once beaten into submission it is served in small ball like pieces with soy sauce, Kinako (which is ground soy bean flour) or daikon (a cooked vegetable paste.)

They all tasted far better than they sound with Kinako the big favourite. Although swinging that great big wooden hammer for any length of time certainly works up an appetite.

It's better to be the hammer than the Mochi anvil.
Emily Dickenson