Rice-pounding ceremony to welcome in new year at Mitsuwa

Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights will celebrate the annual “Mochi Tsuki,” traditional rice cake pounding, on Jan. 1. The event will be enhanced with a live performance by the renowned professional taiko drummers Tsukasa Taiko.

Mochi is a traditional Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice, pounded into paste and molded into shape. Mochi Tsuki is a traditional Japanese ceremony — in Japan, the New Year celebration is much larger than other holidays and Mochi Tsuki is one of the main events. Because many Japanese families in the U.S. do not have proper equipment used for Mochi Tsuki, Mitsuwa Marketplace holds this ceremony every new year day to keep the tradition going.

Mochi is very sticky and can be eaten in different ways. At Mitsuwa's ceremony, free samples are given and both Azuki (Red Bean) and Kinako (soybean flour) are prepared for people to try. During the ceremony, everyone is welcome to join Mitsuwa staff and help them pound.

The event is free, with demonstrations at noon, 1 and 2 p.m.

Mitsuwa Marketplace hopes that this event will be a bridge between not only the American and Japanese people, but among all ethnicities.

Mitsuwa Marketplace is at Arlington Heights and Algonquin roads. (847) 956-6699 or mitsuwa.com.