Mochi pounding is back! Visit us on Saturday 7 January at 12pm for free mochi pounding to welcome in the New Year! Mochitsuki is a famous Japanese tradition where rice is pounded to make mochi, and it takes place on New Year’s Day to welcome the New Year. Mochi is traditionally made using mochi rice, which is a type of rice more glutinous than others. The mochi rice is steamed and then placed into a large usu, or mortar, made from wood or concrete. There are normally at least 2 people involved, one person will hit the mochi rice repeatedly with a wooden mallet, while the other turns the rice to make sure it is evenly pounded. This continues until the rice forms mochi dough, which is then hand-rolled into mochi and then sometimes filled with sweet adzuki red bean paste, sprinkled with soy bean flour, or dipped in soy sauce. No need to book, just turn up and enjoy some fresh mochi for free! If you can’t make it, don’t worry, order your mochi online at shop.ichibalondon.com. #mochipounding #mochi #mochitsuki #newyear #2023 #yearoftherabbit #rabbit #ichiba #westfield #westfieldlondon #japanese #japanesetradition #餅 #お餅 #餅つき #餅つき大会