Mochitsuki
...then shaped into round patties and coated in a sweet flour.
The mochi elasticity symbolizes strength and the white color purity. At this stage fillings can be added. At this event we made red bean paste ('anko-mochi'), seaweed ('nori-mochi'), prawn (ebi-mochi) and strawberry ('ichigo-mochi'). Mochi is also often added to soups, or toasted and eated with a mixture of soy sauce and sugar.