We have not held our traditional Community Mochitsuki event at Enmanji Memorial Hall, since before COVID. These three years have changed our community . . . we’ve lost valuable members and others are no longer able to assist in the way they used to. Prior to the COVID shutdown, the Mochitsuki had already changed; we reduced the amount of mochi we produced, due in large part to a limited number of volunteers. Making less mochi allowed us to end earlier and enjoy the event more.
During the COVID pause, JACL prepared a video Mochitsuki and held a semi-public event at Sonoma State University, but we all acknowledge that it wasn’t the same. Gathering as a community to carry on the age-old Japanese tradition of pounding Mochi for the New Year is important and we want to bring it back this year.
What were the two purposes when the JACL first took on the community Mochitsuki?
to replace family mochi making, since so many had stopped, and
to raise funds for the chapter.
Since then, JACL was privileged to receive a very generous donation, which has enabled us to fund our various programs and activities without the need for so many fundraising events. This also meant that the events we held as fundraisers could evolve. We’re focusing more on civil and human rights education, Japanese American cultural events and less on fundraising.
How is this year’s different from previous Mochitsuki events?
So, we’re proposing a few changes to our Community Mochitsuki, to make it less work, more fun, and more of a cultural experience. Here’s what we’re thinking: “Community Mochitsuki – Back to our Roots.”
First, we want to provide members of our community an opportunity to make Mochi together. . . the way our ancestors and our families used to. The purpose is to reinforce the sense of community and focus on the tradition of the Mochitsuki.
We’ll be making less Mochi, since we’re not selling to raise funds. In fact, we’re not thinking of charging anything for the event. How you may ask . . . We’re going to do it “Old School.”
Families/Individuals interested in participating will be asked to purchase their mochi rice (2 pounds of dry sweet rice (mochi gome) which will make approximately 5 pounds of mochi), wash the rice, soak it (8-12 hours), drain off the excess water, then bring it to the Mochitsuki at 9:00 am. We’ll have water in the steamers boiling, some rice already steaming, and we’ll be able to start pounding mochi around 9:30 am.
At this community mochi-making event, what are we asking you to do?
you stay until all of the mochi has been pounded, formed, cooled, and packaged . . .
oh yeah, and we’ve finished cleaning up. Like the Hawaiian proverb, “Laulima”, “many hands working together.”
We plan to make Mochi until mid-day (when we hope to be done) and break for lunch.
In an effort to make this event even more special, we’re asking everyone to bring a potluck lunch dish to share with everyone. NOTE: you don’t have to bring enough to feed everyone, but enough to share. The plan is to finish making mochi early, have lunch, and clean up.
If you are interested in participating, please RSVP by Friday, December 8th. Email: event@sonomacountyjacl.org or Voicemail: (707) 836-3560
See photos at the Mochitsuki at the Santa Rosa Matsuri Festival in May 2023. Photos by Grace Cheung-Schulman
