Mochitsuki

“Mochitsuki: Celebrating the Japanese New Year” is a short that tells the story of tradition, love, and celebration through one family’s annual gathering to make Mochi.

Join the close-knit San Luis Obispo-based Eto family as they partake in the ceremonial pounding of cooked rice to create warm Mochi cakes. The family’s elders and children reflect on what Mochi means to them, leaving not a cheek untouched by rice flour.

Mochi making brings the family together to embrace tradition.

The dough is covered with mochi flour and shaped into smaller pieces.

Rice dough is pounded with a kine to create an airy texture.

Many family members come together to make mochi.

The dough is coated in mochiko (mochi flour).

The Mochitsuki tradition is taught at a young age.

The rice dough is put into an usu (mortar) for pounding.

“Traditions are passed down through food, and it was an honor to glimpse this connection through making Mochi—done the same way for centuries and continuing here in San Luis Obispo.”

— Sky Bergman

MOCHITSUKI

MOCHITSUKI

餅つき

TRAILER

(805) 215-8684 | SKY@SKYBERGMANPRODUCTIONS.COM | SKYBERGMANPRODUCTIONS.COM