Kagami-Mochi is one of the Japanese New year's ornament.
(Shimenawa-Kazari, Kadomatsu and Kagami-Mochi)
The orange means the Sun and flat mochi rice cakes mean a sacred mirror. (Or a land)
Kagami = "Mirror" in Japanese language
Japanese people display this sacred ornament in their house
after winter solstice to January 11th.
(Other 2 New year ornament is entrance-display only)
January 11th is a Kagami-Biraki day.
Although people eat regular mochi in new year
they enjoy Kagami-mochi again.
kagami-bBiraki is held all over Japan.
At home, office, school and so on.
People need to cut Kagami-mochi without a knife.
Because a knife on God is rude.
Because Japanese rice is a condensed power of the Sun.
As you know, Shinto's top god is Sun goddess, Amaterasu.
Japanese eat Mochi especially in winter season because it warms our stomach.
I found a movie of traditional way to make mochi.
Around New Year's day, people can see mochi pounding all over Japan.
But people buy Dried square cut mochi called Kiri-mochi at supermarket these days.
Some Japanese make homemade mochi using a mochi machine or bakery machine that has mochi pounding function.
Steamed sticky rice.
Process of mochi pounding means sacred intercourse of nature.
Usu, wood bowl as a woman
Kine, wood stick as a man and mochi is a new born baby of nature.
A gift from the Sun and land.
photo by Hanazakarinomori
Dried Kiri-mochi.Easy to use.
photo by wikipedia
That green mochi contains Japanese herb mugwort.(Yomogi)
Green mochi is called Yomogi-Mochi.
"Kagami-Mochi" styles.
Artificial style.
There are many toppings for Mochi.
photo by photolibrary
Kinako with sugar is pretty popular.
Roasted soy bean powder is very savory.
photo by Hanazakarinomori
Oshiruko/Shiruko/Zenzai
Sweet red bean soup with grilled mochi.
Some people love Natto with mochi.
photo by photolibrary
Deep fried mochi is called Kakimochi.
Crunchy and tasty.
My favorite is Nori(sea weed sheet) and soy sauce, Isobe-mochi.
By the way I like brown rice mochi too. It is healthier than white mochi.
Organic brown rice mochi Amazon Japan
Japanese kagami-mochi is related to Matzo in pesach/passover.
By the way I like brown rice mochi too. It is healthier than white mochi.
Organic brown rice mochi Amazon Japan
I found fresh soft mochi at Mitsuwa NJ.
Japanese kagami-mochi is related to Matzo in pesach/passover.
No yeast, layered, the pronunciation of mochi/matzo,
big cleaning event before the party.
Japanese rice wine Sake is also important in nature worship.
⇒ Sake rice wine / Shinto / Microbe protection
big cleaning event before the party.
Japanese rice wine Sake is also important in nature worship.
⇒ Sake rice wine / Shinto / Microbe protection