Pound by pound, 30th anniversary of Mochi Tsuki rings in the New Year

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND – "Ichi! Ni! San!" Hundreds of attendees celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community's Mochi Tsuki festival Saturday at Woodward Middle School.

In the traditional way of making of mochi, a sweet rice cake, a circle of mallet-wielding volunteers help to prepare the treat by pounding the rice in a rhythm set by a brave, nimble-handed soul who counts and turns the cakes in a stone mortar amid the strikes.

Before it can be smashed, the sweet rice is washed and soaked overnight and steamed over an open fire. After the pounding, the mochi is rolled and shaped into smaller pieces for eating.

The New Year's celebration outgrew its former venue at IslandWood, which had hosted the event for 15 years, and debuted at Woodward this year.

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