Photo Essay: Inviting The Gods With The Japanese Mochi Ceremony
According to Shinto belief, making mochi invites the kami, or gods and spirits, to visit. The mochi themselves are thought to contain the presence of the kami; they also represent perfection and purity and are believed to imbue the eater with these qualities.
Allison Grossman visits the Chino family, on their 50-acre plot just north of San Diegoto, to experience firsthand the mochi ceremony.
1. The fan used to cool off the mochi.
2. Smoothing out the new crop rice before it is steamed and made into mochi, this labor of love, spirit, and and soul starts soon after sunrise.
3. Pouring the steamed rice to be pounded, the ceremony has begun. It truly takes a village.
4. Perfecting the pounding of the glutinous rice.
5. Once the rice is sufficiently pounded, it’s taken to the table before being torn into smaller rice balls.
6. Mochi sitting pretty. Shintos believe that mochi invites and contains the kami–Japanese for gods.
7.Although mochi is the main star of the show, sushi and sashimi are eaten plentifully during the ceremony.
8. These tsukemono–Japanese pickles–are made from Chinos’ fresh vegetables.
9. Up and close.
10. Onigiri–sticky rice enveloped in seaweed.
11. The final phase of the ceremony begins by adding yomogi (mugwort) to the rice. The hunched back exemplifies the hard work put into executing this ceremony well.
12. Filled and filed mochi.
13. After a hard day’s work, a much-needed drink is sought and carefully inspected.
14. The glorious farm prepares for rest once guests have left. Next year is just around the corner.
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Check out more of Allison Grossman’s other photos essays: Images on Istanbul and Window on India.
Have you visited a mochi ceremony? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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12 Comments... join the discussion!
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Gorgeous. Just gorgeous…
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Allison, you have more than documented the mochitsuki ceremony – you have also captured the spirit of the ceremony and opened the window into Shinto spiritualism — and have done so with visual splendor ! looking forward to viewing your other photoessays !
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Green tea mochi is my favorite!
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Great photos, Allison. Nice job.
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beautiful and mouthwatering!! You take amazing photos Allison…somebody pass the Mochi!
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Allison. Fantastic Photos. Mochi is beautiful and tasty. Keep it up.
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I loved all of these, but #9 especially drew me in!
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that was such a great photo essay. especially the one of the sashimi! beautiful.
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I bet this mochi is sooo much better than any I’ve ever eaten (though I’m a fan, too much sugar after a little while). But I couldn’t help but notice the Hansen’s soda??
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Thanks for the pic of Hansen’s Soda in #13! Glad some commenters noticed it too. Let us know if we can do anything for you in the future.
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Amazing !! all are great photos.. the mochi one and the glorious farm are my top pics ^_^
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