Mochi Tsuki Festival

For more than 30 years, the Bainbridge Island Mochi Tsuki celebration has been an important traditional event to bring good fortune in the New Year.  Once again, we invite the public to participate in making mochi the traditional way–steaming sweet rice over an open fire, followed by pounding the rice by hand with traditional, handcrafted cherry wood mallets (kine) in a granite bowl (usu). Visitors can get in on the action by trying their hands at pounding the mochi, forming it into cakes by hand, and eating it while it’s still warm and sticky! This event is enjoyed by adults and children alike.

All activities are free to the public, donations are welcome!

Mochi-pounding

• Form-your-own mochi cakes
• Obon dance lessons and public participation
• Performances by Seattle Kokon Taiko
• Origami

Details
Date: Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025

Location: Woodward Middle School, 9125 Sportsman Club Rd., Bainbridge Island

Time: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Seattle Kokon Taiko
There will be two shows, 11:45 and 2 p.m. 

Obon Dance
Bon Odori (盆踊り), meaning simply “Bon dance”, is a style of folk dancing performed during Obon, a festival to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. Lessons will be conducted outdoors under shelter from 12:45-1:45 p.m. 

Image sourced from event website.