Mochitsuki literally means “pounding mochi”. At MVBT it’s much more than that. It’s the gathering of the Sangha in December to pound over 2000 pounds of sweet glutinous rice into mochi. We pound it in early December in anticipation of the New Year.

We pound by hand and we pound by machine. We form komochi and okasane by hand, and then package and distribute the mochi to families and friends in anticipation of the New Year. Over the years, it’s not only the making of mochi that is important, it is a favorite Sangha activity where we come together to work, laugh, and enjoy our community.

BREAKING NEWS: This year making the day extra special will be the presence of a team of reporters and cameramen from CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley who will be filming all aspects of MVBT’s Mochitsuki process to be featured in their New Year’s program covering various types of traditions nationally! They expect to be collecting information including interviews throughout the day starting at 6:30am and ending around 1:30pm. So this is your Informed Consent that if volunteering that day you may become part of a national broadcast!