Mochitsuki

Went to the mochitsuki pounding at Katsuura Elementary last weekend. Very cool and kinda fun.

Mochi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Mochitsuki is the traditional mochi-pounding ceremony in Japan.

1. Polished glutinous rice is soaked overnight and cooked.
2. It is pounded with wooden mallets (kine) in a traditional mortar (usu). Two people will alternate the work, one pounding and the other turning and wetting the mochi. The mochi must be kept wet to keep it from sticking to the mallet.
3. The sticky mass is then formed into various shapes (usually a sphere or cube)."