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Ringing In The New Year, Tokyo (January 3, 2010)

January 3rd, 2010 Posted in Travel In Love Show

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a big fan of mochi.  And low and behold, it's a tradition around the new year to make and eat it (mochi tsuki).  So thanks to Mamiko who found a taco bar (odd, yet not so) that once a year lets customers wield the wooden mallet and pummel specially cooked rice into mochi.  One person strikes while another skillfully folds the big ball of rice over without getting his hand smashed.  After 15 minutes or so, voila, hot sticky mochi with various toppings like soy bean powder, adzuki beans, and nato.  Don't choke, apparently many elderly people die each year from this gooey treat.  What does one do if this happens?  Have you seen the movie Tampopo?  Yes, do it just like they did…with a vaccuum cleaner tube.

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