The Japanese Society of the Northern Marianas pushed through with the mochi-pounding event last Dec. 28, 2020, at the Paseo de Marianas in Garapan.<\/p>\n
Although the Marianas Visitors Authority earlier cancelled the staging of the annual Christmas programs this year, including the annual mochi-pounding event, because there were no tourists this year, the Japanese Society decided to hold the event from 4pm to 5pm at the Paseo de Marianas, in collaboration with non-profit organization PDM Promoters and the Japan Consular Office, to enable the local Japanese community to celebrate the New Year. The mochi-pounding event is a traditional activity among the Japanese to welcome the New Year.<\/p>\n
The mochi (rice cakes) made at the Dec. 28 event were coated with three different flavors\u2014red beans, soybeans powder with sugar, and soy sauce with seaweed\u2014and served to the public.<\/p>\n
Children enjoyed not only eating mochi but also played with some traditional Japanese toys like takeuma, koma, hanetsuki and kendama.<\/p>\n
Due to COVID-19 coronavirus restrictions, the event was very limited to the public and the Japanese Society of the Northern Marianas followed the directives of the COVID-19 Task Force. Still, the society\u2019s members managed to enjoy the yearend event. (PR)<\/p>\n