Mochitsuki

Gentlemen from neighboring towns in Iberaki Prefecture, north of Tokyo, take the first step of stirring and kneading the rice into a more maleable consistency at the Mochitsuki celebration Jan. 30. Mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. Airmen from Hyakuri Air Base and members of the local community invited the U.S. Air Force Airmen to participate in the event. (U.S. Air Force / 1st Lt. Bryan Bouchard)

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Mochitsuki

Lt. Col. James Sukenik, 67th Fighter Squadron director of operations, slams the "kine" during the Japanese mochitsuki festival. Mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. Airmen from Hyakuri Air Base and members of the local community invited the U.S. Air Force Airmen to participate in the special event. (U.S. Air Force / 1st Lt. Bryan Bouchard)

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Mochitsuki

The "kine" is used to knead and mix the mochi rice into a jelly-like paste. Mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that timen. (U.S. Air Force photo / 1st Lt. Bryan Bouchard)

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Mochitsuki

Tech. Sgt. Moises Martinez throws down the kine during Mochitsuki at Hyakuri Air Base Jan. 30. The annual festival coincides with the Japanese New Year and involves making mochi-rice into a jelly-like paste. Airmen from Hyakuri Air Base and members of the local community invited the U.S. Air Force Airmen to participate in the event. (U.S. Air Force / 1st Lt. Bryan Bouchard)

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Mochitsuki

The final product takes the rice cake and adds a topping for flavoring. Mochi is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. (U.S. Air Force photo / 1st Lt. Bryan Bouchard))

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Kadena Airmen pound rice with their Hyakuri hosts

Published Jan. 30, 2010
By 1st Lt. Bryan Bouchard
18th Wing Public Affairs

HYAKURI AIR BASE, Japan -- Kadena Airmen participated in Mochitsuki, an annual Japanese New Year's celebration. During the celebration, over 100 kilograms of cooked mochi-rice is kneaded and mixed into a jelly-like paste which is topped with various flavors. Kadena Airmen were treated to this tradition by Japan Air Self Defense Force airmen and members of the local community outside Hyakuri Air Base. About 100 Airmen and 6 F-15Cs from Kadena are currently operating out of Hyakuri AB, which lies about 70 miles north of Tokyo, for the next week as part of an aviation training relocation. The ATR is designed to provide an opportunity for Kadena Airmen to work alongside their Japanese counterparts, while simultaneously reducing the jet noise from Kadena.