2025 Bainbridge Island Mochi Tsuki Event: A Local Family Tradition Since 1970's Community Celebration (Taiko, Mochi Pounding, Activities, Origami..)NEW

Mochi Tsuki Event - Celebrating 34 Years of Mochi for All!  Join us in celebrating the Anniversary of Mochi Tsuki!

What started as a local family tradition in the 1970's has turned into a beloved Bainbridge Island community celebration event. The community event began at the Island Center Hall, moved to the Filipino Hall, and for the last 16 years has been hosted at IslandWood. In celebration of our annual, we welcome all guests to our new, larger venue-"Woodward Middle School. With our expanded capacity there will no lines, no tickets required to attend either the event or the Seattle Kokon Taiko performances.

Guests of all ages will enjoy hands-on traditional mochi making (and eating!) and learning about the culture and history of the Japanese American Community on Bainbridge Island.

This event is free.  

Annual Mochi Tsuki Event Date
January 11, 2025

Event Time
11 am - 3 pm

Schedule Events
• Authentic mochi steaming over an outdoor fire
• Mochi pounding in a traditional usu (stone bowl) with locally-crafted kine (cherry wood mallets)
• Form your own mochi balls…then eat them with shoyu and sugar!
• Musubi for purchase provided by Sushiko
• Origami folding
• Group Obon Dance workshop from 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
• Taiko drum performances by Seattle Kokon Taiko, shows at 11:45 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Admission: Free. Donations benefit the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community.

Event Location
Woodward Middle School, 9125 Sportsman Club Rd NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum Display
Mochi tsuki is an annual New Year's tradition in many Japanese households and communities. Special mochi rice is soaked overnight, steamed and cooked, and then pounded into a smooth, sticky paste using an usu (large bowl) and kine (wooden mallet). Each year we roll out the solid granite usu and wood mallets that are hand-made by Mike Okano, a member of one of the original families who started the tradition on the island. Get an up-close look as we steam upwards of 200 pounds of rice in batches over an open fire. Then, try your hand at pounding the rice with the enthusiastic guidance of pounding masters Egashira and Okano. Children and adults can try their hand at forming the mochi cakes that are then eaten plain, filled with red bean paste, or dipped in soy sauce and sugar.

Things To See in Bainbridge
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Event Title
Annual Mochi Tsuki Event - A Local Family Tradition Since 1970's Community Celebration-Live Taiko, Mochi Pounding, Kid Activities, Origami..

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