Mochi/Daifuku: The relationship between New Year's and Mochi, and warnings to prevent choking

"Mochi" is a special existence in Japanese food culture. While it is an essential food for celebrations as a sacred food, it is also a food that requires caution due to its stickiness.
On this page, we will deliver a guide on how to enjoy Mochi and Daifuku, and cautions for safety.

1. Mochi and Daifuku: Guide by type and style

Type	Features and experience
Kirimochi	Commonly grilled or put into Ozoni. Best eaten with soy sauce or sugar soy sauce.
Daifuku	A Japanese sweet with bean paste inside mochi. You can buy it easily at convenience stores.
Ozoni	A traditional soup with mochi eaten on New Year's. The flavor differs depending on the region.

2. [Important] Warnings for eating Mochi: To avoid choking

Mochi is very sticky and elastic. Not only small children and the elderly, but everyone needs to be careful.

Cut into small pieces: When eating, be sure to cut it into small pieces that you can eat in one bite.
Chew well: Do not swallow it down, but chew well to mix with saliva, and eat after making it easier to swallow.
With water: Enjoy slowly while taking in moisture such as tea or water.
Do not rush: If it feels like it will clog your throat, do not overdo it, and stop swallowing once.

3. Deep relationship between New Year's and Mochi

Why do we eat Mochi on New Year's?
In Japan, it has been believed from ancient times that "souls (gods)" dwell in rice. Mochi is valued as a lucky charm that gives you the power of a new year by eating the "soul of rice." "Kagami mochi" decorated for New Year's is also an indispensable culture as an offering to gods.

4. Trivia to enjoy after returning home

Daifuku continues to evolve, such as strawberry Daifuku (with a strawberry inside) and cream Daifuku. When storing, Mochi becomes hard quickly, so it is best to eat it as soon as possible.

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