The Nikkei Mochitsuki event on December 29, 2024 was a resounding success, bringing together hundreds of community members to celebrate this cherished Japanese tradition. The event featured a live mochitsuki demonstration by members of the Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association, allowing attendees to witness firsthand the powerful process of transforming steamed rice into soft, chewy mochi. Many participants even had the opportunity to try their hand at pounding the mochi themselves.
The festive atmosphere was enhanced by performances. Chibi Taiko kicked off the event with energetic drumming, followed by a graceful Japanese dance performance by Satsuki Kai. Vancouver Okinawa Taiko then took the stage, mesmerizing the audience with their lively drumming and dynamic dance routines.
The NNMCC Auxiliary members demonstrated remarkable dedication as usual, starting their preparations early in the morning. They tirelessly washed, steamed, cooked, pounded, shaped, and packaged an estimated 3,714 pieces of fresh mochi on the day, with additional bags of frozen mochi prepared in advance.
We are incredibly grateful to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. We also acknowledge the generous support of the Province of British Columbia.
We are thrilled with the positive response from the community and believe that the Nikkei Mochitsuki event successfully fostered a sense of cultural pride and belonging. We are committed to improving the event experience for future years and are currently exploring ways to minimize wait times for fresh mochi.
We look forward to continuing to share the rich traditions of Japanese culture with the community during our 25th anniversary year.
Photos by Adam PW Smith
