National Mochi Day – August 8, 2026

History of National Mochi Day

National Mochi Day was announced in 2021 by Hawaiian mochi business Mochi Mochi Wagashi as a day to celebrate all the wonders of mochi. The humble mochi’s origins date back to ancient history. It is recognized that the Japanese started making their own mochi after they started growing their own rice in the Jomon period between 14,000 B.C. and 300 B.C. During the Kofun period in the 6th century, the production of homemade mochi increased as earthenware steamers became available in almost every household.

In the Heian period (794 to 1185), mochi was used and eaten in ceremonial events, ‘shinto,’ such as marriage and childbirth, and became a traditional Japanese New Year treat. Mochi holds great significance in Japan particularly during the New year season as different varieties are consumed as symbols of luck. One of them is the ‘zoni’ soup, which is a soup containing mochi pieces and various other vegetables. Another is the ‘kagami mochi’, consumed during the ‘kagami biraki’ ritual.

Prevalent in Japan as a cultural symbol, mochi comes in a large variety of forms and can be prepared differently according to different regions. The types of mochi include the round, familiar ‘marumochi,’ the square ‘kakumochi,’ and the ‘sakuramochi,’ which is a pink mochi wrapped in a pickled ‘sakura’ (cherry blossom) leaf. Some types of mochi are consumed during specific occasions in Japan. For example, ‘kashiwamochi’, a mochi wrapped in a ‘kashiwa’ (oak) leaf, is a traditional treat eaten during Children’s Day on May 5, while ‘sakuramochi’ is eaten to symbolize the start of spring. Meanwhile, ‘kakumochi’ is a traditional Japanese household winter treat, which is heated and eaten wrapped in a piece of ‘nori’ (seaweed) and dipped in soy sauce.

Present types of mochi available on sale today are commonly filled with a variety of pastes such as ‘azuki’ (red bean), ‘matcha’ (green tea), black sesame, taro, and even vanilla. Other iterations also include mochi ice cream, where the soft exterior of the mochi’s skin blends perfectly with the cool sweetness of ice cream.