Mochi Tsuki has been celebrated as a community event on Bainbridge Island for more than 30 years. The beloved event is one of the largest on Bainbridge Island and draws visitors from around the Pacific Northwest. At its core, Mochi Tsuki is a celebration among a tight knit community of families who have invited the public to share in their celebration of the New Year. Maybe you know the families, maybe you are one of the families, or maybe you've heard the folklore. This is your chance to experience the history of Mochi Tsuki!
MOCHI TSUKI AT THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY HALL
Were you there? Cathy Kiyomura of KING5 News reports on Mochi Tsuki at the Filipino Hall in the 1980's
TRADITION AND FAMILY ARE AT THE HEART OF MOCHI TSUKI
Oh, no, the mochi machine is broken! Follow along with Akari and Rylan as they learn how to make mochi the old-fashioned way, and how family and tradition are at the heart of Mochi Tsuki. "Thank You Very Mochi" is an imaginative children’s book that will “pound” into children’s hearts the importance of family relationships and cultural traditions.
Keith Uyekawa's family has been celebrating mochi tsuki for 56 years with family and friends in Riverside, CA. Since moving to the Island 15 years ago, he has continued the tradition with his new "family" on Bainbridge. Learn the story of the Takeno Family tradition.
For nearly half of his life, Quentin Faust has been manning the mochi distribution window in January. Learn what it's like for this young volunteer who has braved cold winter days at Islandwood and long angry lines at Woodward to bring mochi to the people.
Having grown from small family gatherings to annual celebrations drawing 3,000+ visitors, the event now requires months of planning, an army of volunteers, and the generous donations of community members. Take a look behind-the-scenes at Mochi Tsuki 2019-2020.
"Bearing the Unbearable" was produced by the National Park Service. It tells the story of the World War II Japanese American Exclusion and its impact on Bainbridge Island residents. Internees were sent to relocation centers in Manzanar and Minidoka. Many returned and rebuilt their lives on Bainbridge Island.
