Mochi

Mochi is a type of Japanese confectionery made from pounded glutinous rice, then molded into shape. Mochi often has a filling inside, such as ice cream, azuki (red bean) paste, and others. In Japan, mochi is often eaten in New Year's Day in one of two dishes: ozōni (お雑煮) or oshiruko (おしるこ). 

Mochi is similar to dango, which is made with rice flour instead of pounded rice grains. 

Mochitsuki(餅つき）
Mochitsuki is a traditional mochi-making ceremony in Japan. It requires two people. One person pounds steamed rice into the dough with a traditional mortar (臼:usu) and a mallet (杵:kine). The other person turns over rice each time it is pounded. They have to keep rhythm to make mochi well. These days, normal families rarely do classic mochitsuki, but it is still popular at community events or with children's groups.

Mochi dishes
 Yaki mochi (grilled mochi)
 Kusa mochi (mochi produced by mixing mugwort into glutinous rice and pounding the mixture)
 Kinako mochi (mochi with powdered soybeans)
 Ozōni (soup dish which contains mochi and other ingredients)
 Oshiruko (mochi in a sweet soup which is obtained by boiling red beans)
 Daifuku (soft round mochi stuffed with sweet filling, such as sweetened bean paste or fruit)

Choking hazard
Many old people choke to death while eating mochi every year.
Japanese know mochi is dangerous traditional food, so the accident is one's own responsibility.

 See also 

 Japanese food
 Tteok, similar rice cakes from Korea

References

Other websites
 http://janmstore.com/mochitsuki.html/

Category:Rice
Category:Japanese food
Category:Japanese desserts and sweets
Category:Confectionery