LITTLE TOKYO : A Happy New Year Pound for Pound

It’s that time of year again. Time to grab a mallet and help pound rice into gooey mochi (Japanese rice cakes) to be eaten at New Year’s in hopes of ushering in a healthy and happy year.

The Little Tokyo Community Mochitsuki (rice cake making) is from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, 244 S. San Pedro St. Visitors can come see how mochi, a traditional Japanese holiday food, is made and lend a hand in pounding the rice or shaping the cakes.

Volunteers began preparing the rice Friday. It was washed and left to sit overnight and then rinsed thoroughly Saturday. Today the rice will be steamed, then mashed, either by hand with mallets or by a speedier, modern-day machine.

The mochi will finally be shaped into small, round mounds and allowed to cool briefly before eating in a broth with vegetables, called ozoni ; with sweet beans; or simply grilled and eaten flavored with seaweed and soy sauce.

Organizers plan to make only about 150 pounds of mochi at the community event. Organizer Miles Hamada said that only those who help in the process will be allowed to buy some of the final product.

The event is free.

Information: (213) 628-2725.