How did eating mochi become a Japanese New Year's tradition?

Japanese people celebrate New Year as well as other nations. For them, New Year is also the time to greet and thank gods. They do house cleanings before the end of year to welcome gods. After cleaning, they place a set of kagami-mochi in the kitch... read more

Japanese people celebrate New Year as well as other nations. For them, New Year is also the time to greet and thank gods. They do house cleanings before the end of year to welcome gods. After cleaning, they place a set of kagami-mochi in the kitchen, toilet and entrance as offerings to the gods where they believe the god exits, so they make mochi. read more

Most of the deaths in Japan occur in January when the cakes are most often consumed. According to the Tokyo Fire Department, mochi sends more than 100 people to the hospital every year in Tokyo alone. Between 2006 and 2009, 18 people died from choking on mochi in the Japanese capital, according to city's fire department. read more

I am not sure about the origin of sticky rice outside of Japan but as far as I know, Japanese mochi came from South East Asia along with rice crop in Jomon era, around 2-3 BC. Mochi at the time included rice, beans and other crops steamed and pounded. read more