People in temporary homes enjoy mochi pounding People living in temporary homes in a town in disaster-hit northeastern Japan got to enjoy a traditional year-end event on Saturday…. making rice cakes. Saturday, November 26, 2011 22:32 +0900 (JST)
The event took place in a schoolyard in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, where temporary homes have been built.
The residents took turns pounding the rice cake, and called out each time the mallet was brought down.
The fresh rice cake was then coated with toasted soybean flour or sweet bean paste, and served to the participants.
The event was organized by a group supporting disaster-hit people. Mountain climbers and university students joined the event as volunteers.
The head of the group, Hidehiko Otsuka, says he wanted people living in temporary housing to come out and have fun.
He said he was glad to see them smiling.
