Begin Japanology
Season 4 Episode 1 - Mochi Rice Cake
Mochi, a glutinous dough made from steamed rice, is a favorite food among the Japanese. At least two people are required to make mochi the traditional way: a mallet man and a flipper. The movements of the two must be perfectly synchronized, and the best teams can be very interesting to watch. Mochi is used in various ways at the New Year and on important occasions in life. At weddings, the groom may take part in mochi pounding. Its stickiness symbolizes a wish that the couple will enjoy a strong, lasting bond. A soup of mochi, vegetables, meat, and seafood is an essential part of many New Year's meals throughout Japan. The recipes vary not only from region to region, but almost from family to family. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, we look at mochi rice cake - a food steeped in history and the Japanese way of life.
Episodes in Season 4
Mochi Rice Cake
28 min
Watches and Clocks
28 min
Fugu Blowfish
28 min
Haneda Airport
28 min
Kagura Dances
28 min
Snow
28 min
Pollen Allergy
28 min
Sashimono Woodwork
28 min
Cranes
28 min
Kitchen Knives
28 min
Fishing
28 min
Armour
28 min
Judo
28 min
The Life of Taro Okamoto
28 min
The Life of Osamu Dazai
28 min
The Life of Kenzo Tange
28 min
The Life of Hideko Maehata
28 min
Toilets
28 min
Lifts
28 min
Motorcycles
28 min
Unagi Eel
28 min
Japanophiles - Ilan Yanizky
28 min
Japanophiles - Silvain Guignard
28 min
Japanophiles - Stéphane Danton
28 min
Japanophiles - Dorothy Feibleman
28 min
Plastic Food Samples
28 min
Insects
28 min
Traditional Japanese Mathematics
28 min
Bicycles
28 min
Chusonji
28 min
Seaweed
28 min
Charcoal
28 min
Rain
28 min
Golf
28 min
Shipbuilding
28 min
Japanophiles - Bruce Huebner
28 min
Japanophiles - Noelke Muho
28 min
Japanophiles - Matt Alt
28 min
Karaoke
28 min
Holidays
28 min
Red Sea Bream
28 min
Shopping Streets
28 min
Chickens and Eggs
28 min
