Mochi-tsuki - Rice Cake Making

Mochi-tsuki (rice cake making) is very popular custom in Japan on the new year season.
We can see that everywhere on that season, in front of shop, on the shopping streets, in the local living area, and so on.
I could that at shop-front of MARUI shopping centre where located in front of the Totsuka JR station,
3 persons was working together to some mount of steamed rice in a mallet mortar. 1 person was kneading and upsetting that and 2 people was pounding that in rotation. I though about it so regular working.

Many people, including me, was watching their working, and was waiting the mochi, rice cake, was completed.
Because we could eat fresh rice cake there.
That is Mochi-tsuki, Japanese popular custom on the New Year season.

A Happy New Year!

Time flies very fast. 2006 has already come.
In last December, I had been very busy, for job, preparation for new year, some year-end parties and so on.
I had a lot of household chores still on New Year's Eve.
Cleanup my house, washing my car, writing Nes Year's card to my friends and colleague.
Until around 11pm on 31th Dec, I had been hectic, so I finished doing that in time for New Year.

I paid a visit to Myo-ho-ji temple, at Suginami ward in Tokyo, on New Year's day.
But there were long line to precinct of Myo-ho-ji temple. So I gave up to pay a visit to the temple today. Maybe I would visit there the day after tomorrow, 3th January.

Many Japanese is paying a visit tp a temple and shrine on New Year's day.
This is one of the Japanese custom on this season.