On Dec. 31 Hakozakigu Shrine is holding a mochitsuki event. The mochi (rice cakes) at this festival are in the shape of namako (sea cucumbers). The namako mochi are traditional and were first made after a fisherman from Hakozaki, due to lack of time, brought a sea cucumber instead of a rice cake to the birth celebrations of Emperior Ojin one New Year’s Eve. Ever since, fishermen from Hakozaki assemble at Hakozakigu every New Year to pound mochi flour together.
• 12/31 (Sat.)
• Start: 19:00
• Hakozakigu Shrine
• 1-22-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku
• 092-641-7431
• http://www.hakozakigu.or.jp/omatsuri/#winter2
