Isshou Mochi: The First Birthday Burden

Every culture has unique birthday traditions, with those celebrating the first year of life tending to be the most elaborate in correspondence to its importance. In Japan, where certain points in life hold great significance, first birthday traditions are said to set the tone for the child’s life ahead and give the family a peek into the future. One of these traditions is called “isshou mochi no oiwai”.

Mochi is a type of rice cake made from pounding glutinous rice. The versatile rice cake is used in various ways, from chewy sweet mochi wrapped around fruit or sweetened red bean paste to hard dry blocks of mochi used in soups and other dishes. Isshou mochi, however, is ceremonial, like the kagami mochi used in New Year’s celebrations in Japan, thus it is hard and dense. Isshou mochi is also particularly large, based on an old measurement for sake or rice called a shou. One shou, called isshou in Japanese (which also means “one lifetime”), weighs about 1.8kg so that amount of glutinous rice is used to make the special birthday rice cake. It is often decorated with the birthday baby’s name and birthdate.

While there are many variations to this tradition, the basic idea is that the child carries this nearly 2kg rice cake and their reaction to the struggle foreshadows their path in life. As one might imagine, the weight is quite heavy for a small child, so they’re prone to falling over. However, this is seen as good luck in the eyes of the Japanese as the ability to fall and get back up is a sign of perseverance. The overarching idea is that the ceremony teaches the child the ups and downs of life at an early age and instills resilience. It is also believed to bring the child food, good health, and harmony for the rest of their life.

Many of the variations of this tradition stem from how the baby carries the mochi. In most regions, the mochi is carried on their back with some traditions even including a special backpack. Other regions, like Chugoku, Kanto, and Hokkaido, wrap the mochi in furoshiki cloths to make it more manageable. There are also differing beliefs regarding the baby falling while carrying the isshou mochi. In Kanto and Hokkaido, parents may even trip the child as it is believed a fall will ensure they will stay at home longer before moving out later in life!

After the ceremony is finished the mochi is often eaten by the family. After slicing it into more manageable pieces it can be used in a variety of dishes. One popular way to eat it is to toast or pan-fry the mochi until crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside and serve it with a soy sauce-based dipping sauce.

Looking to try making mochi at home? Try using mochiko (glutinous rice flour) to make your own chewy mochi and dango. Visit our website to purchase mochiko and find a wide variety of recipes! Not up to cooking? Get a taste of mochi with our Hyroku Mochi Candy!

About the author: 

Nadine Pryor
Nadine first became interested in Japan and Japanese culture after working with an exchange program at her university. After hearing so many wonderful things from the exchange students she worked with she was longing for a chance to see Japan for herself. That opportunity came to her in the form of the JET program where she spent 5 years on a small island in the beautiful prefecture of Okinawa. While living in this very rural community of just under 1,300 people she was lucky to experience a glimpse into some of Okinawa’s unique traditions and culture. In her free time, she traveled the main island of Japan as well as eastern Asia, seeking out the most delicious foods and exciting experiences. She currently resides in the United States but hopes to return to Japan in the future.