Mochitsuki: Traditional Mochi Pounding

My first trip to Japan was in 2019 with my partner, when all I had on me was a backpack and my Nikon Camera. I could not read or understand any Japanese, resulting in quite a culture shock compared to my experiences in the US. I spent most of the trip walking around shrines and temples, taking pictures of the breathtaking scenery around me.

One day we stumbled upon an event taking place in the middle of a city in Tokyo. We at first thought it was a food festival with the amount of people there, and we came back after the crowds had dispersed to discover it was an event highlighting traditional mochi making. We initially planned to stand by the side so as to not interrupt, but one of the workers noticed us and brought us in, excited to see foreigners interested in their event. They talked about how traditional craft is slowly disappearing across Japan, especially as the younger generation moves out of the countrysides and into the city centers for work. They had created this committee to spread awareness of different types of craft to the generations that have never seen or experienced it. I remember when they first brought us over, they asked if we knew what they were doing and were so happy when we guessed it was mochi pounding. When they brought up how Japan was slowly losing the tradition and their concerns about it becoming a forgotten part of the past, I told them about how we first learned about it. At the time, there were many videos going around showcasing the technique and skill level in mochi-pounding and folding. They all seemed very happy to hear that traditional craft was making its way out of Japan.

After our talk, they let us join in and try using the mallets to pound mochi and offered us free mochi they had made that day. That was one of my favorite experiences during my travels in Japan, and one that I immediately tried to capture in my paintings.