Pounding Rice Cakes With My Neighbors in Japan

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1. 01Pounding Rice Cakes in Japan

   Hello, everyone. I'm an English teacher from Ireland, and I live in a small town in Nagano. Last December, my neighbors invited me to make mochi, or rice cakes. Let me tell you about it.

2. 02Cooking the Rice

   First, we cooked sticky rice in a big steamer. It smelled really good. Then we put the hot rice into a large wooden bowl.

3. 03Pounding the Rice

   Next, we pounded the rice with a heavy wooden hammer. One person hit, and another person turned the rice with wet hands. We shouted together each time!

4. 04Eating Together

   Finally, we made small round cakes and ate them right away. They were soft and warm. My favorite was mochi with sweet bean paste.

5. 05Conclusion

   My arms were tired, but I was very happy. That day, I felt like part of the town. Thank you for listening.