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NATIONAL MOCHI DAY

5 min. read
August 8, 2026

NATIONAL MOCHI DAY

Today is August 8 on the National Day Calendar, which means we are celebrating sweet Japanese rice cake Mochi on National Mochi Day! Follow along as we share a few surprising facts about the delicious history behind this Japanese delight.

#NATIONALMOCHIDAY

Mochi is a traditional Japanese rice dessert made from glutinous rice. It dates back to the 3rd century (AD 201 to AD 300) during the Nara period. In fact, Mochi is said to have evolved during the same time as rice cultivation. In Japan, rice is a significant part of Japanese culture. History tells us Mochi relates to Japanese lore, gods and goddesses, celebrations, and art that dates back to the 3rd century.

DID YOU KNOW?

Japanese has been eating Mochi on New Year's Day for over 1000 years.

Rice and the Japanese Culture

Rice has always been an important symbol in the Japanese Imperial family, which is the oldest hereditary monarch in the world. The Imperial family are the only descendants from the sun goddess Amaterasu, also known as the goddess of creation. Ancient texts show emperors grew and harvested rice as part of of their spiritual traditions and continue to do so, today. Because Mochi is a rice creation, the Japanese believe Mochi is a part of their cultural spirituality and creation, bringing blessings and happiness.

Making and eating mochi has cultural significance in Japanese society. Rice appears during ceremonial functions and during celebrations, such as births, weddings, birthdays, and even funerals. Because Mochi consists of rice, the Japanese culture uses Mochi as a way to present gifts during important milestones. Eating Mochi means bringing good luck and fortune into the life of the gift giver and gift receiver.

5 Mochi Types you Should Try

  1. Ichigo Daifuku is Mochi with a fresh strawberry and a red bean smear.

  2. Sakura Mochi is normally a pink Mochi wrapped with an edible sakura leaf. This pretty Mochi is usually eaten during the spring on Hinamatsuri, or Girl's Day in March.

  3. Hishi Mochi is three-layers of mochi in pink, white, and green. Japanese eat Hishi Mochi on Hinamatsuri day to celebrate the success and good health of all females.

  4. Hanabira Mochi is served on New Years Day Mochi during the first tea ceremony of the year. Hanabira Mochi resemble a flower, which adds beauty to the tea ceremony.

  5. Kusa Mochi is a green Mochi with an ice cream filling. Kusa Mochi has the subtle flavor of green tea.

There is an art to making Mochi that dates back as far as the first records of Mochi. In fact, families still gather before major events to make this rice treat. Mochitsuki is an ancient technique of making making Mochi. During Mochitsuki, rice is pounded with large wooden mallets in a mortar until the the rice is smooth and creamy. Mochi is then shaped into smalls balls that will be added to soups, dishes, and often filled with creams, nuts, or fresh fruits.

5 Popular Mochi Flavors

There are a variety of flavors one can add to Mochi. Because Mochi is rice, it does have a rice flavor. However, this is what makes Mochi so versatile when it comes to adding flavor to it. Here are a few:

  1. Red bean paste, known as anko.

  2. White bean past, known as shiroan.

  3. Custard

  4. Ice Cream

  5. Fruit, such as strawberries

Other ways to enjoy Mochi is in soups, with soy sauces, wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf, or served as a cake.

7 NATIONAL MOCHI DAY CELEBRATIONS

  1. Learn about the history of Japanese culture and how the use Mochi in their traditional celebrations.

  2. Take a class to learn how to make Japanese food, including Mochi.

  3. Visit a Japanese store to buy your own Mochi to share with family and friends.

  4. Attend a Japanese food market to find Mochi to try.

  5. Attend a Japanese festival, such as Children's Day, the Mid-Autumn Festival.

  6. Participate in the customs of the Japanese New Year to see how Mochi is shared within the culture.

  7. Tell us your story about Mochi or share photos of eating Mochi on social media tagging #NationalMochiDay.

Who Created National Mochi Day?

National Mochi Day was first launched in 2021 by Mochi Mochi Wagashi, a Hawaiian mochi small business who celebrates this traditional Japanese rice delight. Owner Jess enjoys creating different versions of Mochi to share with her customers and friends. Join us today as we celebrate a traditional sweet (and sometimes savory) Japanese rice cake Mochi on National Mochi Day.