is a Japanese sweet (''

wagashi are traditional Japanese confections that are often served with green tea, especially the types made of ''mochi'', ''anko'' (azuki bean paste), and fruit. ''Wagashi'' are typically made from plant-based ingredients. History In Japan, the wor ...

''), usually eaten at the beginning of the year. Hanabiramochi are also served at the first

tea ceremony An East Asian tea ceremony, or ''Chádào'' (), or ''Dado'' ( ko, 다도 (茶道)), is a ceremonially ritualized form of making tea (茶 ''cha'') practiced in East Asia by the Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans. The tea ceremony (), literally transla ...

of the new year.

Origin

The name "hanabiramochi" literally means "flower petal

mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of , a short-grain japonica glutinous rice, and sometimes other ingredients such as water, sugar, and cornstarch. The rice is pounded into paste and molded into the desired shape. In Japan, it is traditionally ma ...

". The original form of Hanabiramochi is ''Hishihanabira'', a dessert that was eaten by the

Imperial family A royal family is the immediate family of King, kings/Queen regnant, queens, Emir, emirs/emiras, Sultan, sultans/Sultana (title), sultanas, or raja/rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the ...

at special events coinciding with the beginning of the year. ''Hanabiramochi'' was first made in the

Meiji Era The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization b ...

(8 September 1868 – 30 July 1912), but it is now a familiar New Year ''

''.

Form

The exact shape of ''hanabiramochi'' is strictly defined by tradition. The white ''mochi'' covering is flat and round, folded over to form a semicircular shape, and must have a pink color showing through in the center of the confection, fading to a white at the edge. Unlike a ''

daifuku , or (literally "great luck"), is a wagashi, (a type of Japanese confection) consisting of a small round mochi (a glutinous rice cake) stuffed with a sweet filling, most commonly '' anko'', (a sweetened red bean paste made from azuki beans). D ...

'', the ''mochi'' must not completely seal the insides. In the center of a ''hanabiramochi'' is a layer of '' anko'', a sweet bean paste, commonly the white kind made from sweetened

mung beans The mung bean (''Vigna radiata''), alternatively known as the green gram, maash ( fa, ماش٫ )٫ mūng (), monggo, or munggo (Philippines), is a plant species in the legume family.Brief Introduction of Mung Bean. Vigna Radiata Extract G ...

. In the very center is a thin strip of sweetly flavoured ''gobo'' (

burdock ''Arctium'' is a genus of biennial plants commonly known as burdock, family Asteraceae. Native to Europe and Asia, several species have been widely introduced worldwide. Burdock's clinging properties, in addition to providing an excellent mecha ...

), which protrudes from the ''mochi'' on both sides.

Significance and symbolism

Each element of the ''hanabiramochi'' is significant: The red colour showing through the white ''

'' is not only appropriate to the celebration of the new year, but also evokes the Japanese apricot/plum (''

ume ''Prunus mume'' is an East Asian and Southeast Asian tree species classified in the ''Armeniaca'' section of the genus ''Prunus'' subgenus ''Prunus''. Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The flower, long ...

'') blossom, which in turn represents the purity, perseverance, and renewal associated with the New Year. The ''gobo'' represents pressed '' ayu'', a fish exclusive to East Asia, and a prayer for a long life.

References

{{Reflist Japanese cuisine Wagashi Chadō Japanese New Year foods

Origin

Form

Significance and symbolism

See also

References