Community Mochitsuki

PLEASE RSVP BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024
Email: event@sonomacountyjacl.org
Voicemail: 707-836-3560

Dear JACL Members,

It’s that time of year, again!
For those of you that did not attend last year, here are some of the changes we’ve made to the Community Mochitsuki.

First, we want to provide members of our community an opportunity to make Mochi together . . . the way our ancestors and our families used to. We want to reinforce the sense of community and focus on the tradition of the Mochitsuki as a collaborative activity.

We’ll be making less Mochi, since we’re not selling to raise funds. In fact, we’re not charging anything to participate in the event.

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 3 pounds of mochi), wash the rice, soak it (8-12 hours), drain off the excess water, then bring it to the Memorial Hall at 9:00 am Saturday, November 30th.

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. For those that can come earlier to help set up, we’ll be at the Hall at 8:00 am.

Day of the Event

When you arrive on Saturday, look for the “Check-In” table, we’ll sign you in, tag your rice, and place your mochi gome into the que. You’ll be able to track your mochi as it makes its way through the process. We will provide containers for your finished mochi.

As a community mochi making event, we’re going to ask that 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.”

If you have never participated in a Mochitsuki before, don’t worry, there will be experienced volunteers there to teach you how to do everything from steaming, pounding, shaping, cooling and packaging. You don’t have to do everything, but we do ask that you join in the fun and help out!

We plan to make Mochi until mid-day (when we hope to be done), break for a potluck lunch, and then clean up

If you’ve not participated in a Japanese Community Potluck before, please bring a main course or side dish, enough for your family and extra to share with others. JACL will be providing plates, utensils, beverages (coffee, tea & soft drinks).

Timeline

• November 22nd, Friday – Deadline to RSVP
  Email: event@sonomacountyjacl.org
  Voicemail: (707) 836-3560
• November 29th, Friday – Wash & soak rice (8-12 hours)
• November 30th, Saturday
  • Morning – Drain rice
  • 8:00 am – Early Arrival to help set up & start
    boiling water
  • 9:00 am – Event Starts
    Enmanji Memorial Hall
    1200 Gravenstein Hwy. South
    Sebastopol, California
  • Noon – Potluck Lunch
  • Clean-up

Instructions for Washing Sweet Rice (Mochi Gome)

Friday Evening: Rinse 2 pounds of uncooked “sweet” rice thoroughly, then place in a large bowl with clean water to cover the rice by an inch or two. Mochi Gome/Sweet Rice is not the same as regular short grain table rice.
Place soaking rice in a cool area to soak overnight. This soaking/resting period is essential.
Saturday Morning: Drain rice and place in a Ziplock bag, or covered container to transport to Enmanji Memorial Hall. Please put your first & last name on the bag, or container.

Available online from Amazon! Click here

PLEASE RSVP BY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024
Email: event@sonomacountyjacl.org
Voicemail: 707-836-3560