Have you ever made your own mochi? It’s a new year’s tradition in Japan. Here is the traditional way to make it:
1. First cook special mochi rice, and a special type of chestnut in the rice cooker. (I forgot the type of chestnut).
2. You put hot water in your wooden bowl stand mortar and put in your mochi rice and chestnuts mix.
3. Mash it with a hammer, until it gets so sticky. Be sure to add hot water to the hammer and the mochi, as they will stick to each other.
4. Roll it out with potato starch into small pieces. 5. Add whatever flavor or toppings you want to your mochi.

I love mochi! During winter I just like to make a mochi seaweed sandwich with a little bit of soy-sauce.... delicious!
But got to be careful, super easy to choke on that stuff!
Soy sauce and kimchi was surprising at sight but yummy at mouth 😊 I'm sure kinako is very good too 😍
I've experienced that a long time ago in my past neighborhood. They were doing it in front of someone's house and the other neighbors would come, help, have a chat and eat. It was a great community gathering, nice experience and kudos to the dads who were smashing the mochi bare hands using hot water during a cold winter day.
I remembered the type of chestnuts, it was horse chestnut.
Mochitsuki builds muscle, haha! I've made mochi with neighbors who have a vintage mortar.
Yes I also tried it once.