2006 Kagami Biraki

**MagicElvisaj** · 8th January 2006, 01:49

I went to the Kagami Biraki today at the Hombu. I was only there for a short time. Here are some pictures! Enjoy!
Aaron

**Ewok** · 8th January 2006, 14:20

Nice photos! Especially like the mochitsuki in the last one, you know its new year when they start pounding the sticky stuff

Did you get to eat any?

**Robdawson_** · 8th January 2006, 17:39

Yeah, what exactly are they doing in that last picture?!

**Ewok** · 8th January 2006, 20:03

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi

Making a Japanese food called Mochi - it's a bit of a acquired taste...

**David Dunn** · 9th January 2006, 13:59

Originally Posted by Ewok

[url]Making a Japanese food called Mochi - it's a bit of a acquired taste...

It's revolting, and takes hours to chew.

**luar** · 9th January 2006, 15:48

Originally Posted by Ewok

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mochi

Making a Japanese food called Mochi - it's a bit of a acquired taste...

Like beer

**JL.** · 9th January 2006, 17:47

Gassho!

The one I had was sweet and tasted quite good. Well, I like pretty much everything sweet.

On a different note, what's a Kagami Biraki anyway?

Kesshu,
______ Jan.

**MagicElvisaj** · 9th January 2006, 20:29

Kagami Biraki in this case means the first training of the year. It also means the time in the new year when one cuts and eats the mochi that has been offered for the gods.
Yes I ate some. At the Hombu they give out Amazaki (sweet sake that one drinks in the new year) and Senzai (sweet bean soup with mochi in it) good stuff!

Aaron

**JL.** · 9th January 2006, 21:19

Gassho!

Funny, I thought the Japanese were celebrating a different new year than we do.

Kesshu,
______ Jan.

**Anders Pettersson** · 9th January 2006, 21:50

Originally Posted by MagicElvisaj

Here are some pictures! Enjoy!

Hi Aaron.

Thanks for posting the pictures.

/Anders

BTW, I remember seeing you at Dharma-sai in OCtober, saw some pictures of you on your home page and recognised you.

**MagicElvisaj** · 10th January 2006, 11:17

No Problem I was only there for a short while so I did not get that many.

Japan has the same New Year as the west, however they use a different year system after the Emperor. This year is Hesei 18. The western year is also used alot.
Aaron

**Tripitaka of AA** · 10th January 2006, 20:52

Hi Aaron, regarding o-mochi, have you heard the one about the "rabbit making mochi"? Apparently the light and dark areas on the full moon can be seen as a rabbit beating the mochi as the schoolkids are doing in your photo.

Yoriko waxed lyrical about the fresh mochi that the students would make at her High School. Grilled, painted with shoyu and wrapped in a couple of bits of nori... mmmmm, delicious!

But then again, people die every year from choking to death on mochi (usually the elderly, and usually on the "lovely" fresh stuff). Which is a cheerful thought, yes!

**JL.** · 10th January 2006, 21:19

Gassho!

If a delicacy doesn't offer a certain chance for a violent death, it isn't really Japanese, is it? Take Fugu for example –!what would be the fun in eating it if there wasn't a couple of deaths related to it every year!

Kesshu,
______ Jan.

Thread: 2006 Kagami Biraki

Thread Tools

Display

2006 Kagami Biraki

Dare I say?

Sweet Mochi

New year?

Deadly food

Posting Permissions