<Begin Segment 2>

ES: This is the annual fare of Japanese custom, is mochitsuki, making rice cake, at the New Year's time. The rice is pounded together and made into a dough, and later made into a ball and you'll see that a little later. This is all pounded. Watch the lady as she turns it over. See, I'd be afraid to put my hands in there, it was so synchronized that she is prevented from getting hit. Now the dough is brought to the table, and it's made into a tiny ball rice cake.

WH: Did these traditions mean a lot to the internees?

ES: Pardon?

WH: Did these traditions mean a lot to you?

ES: Oh, yes, it meant a lot to the person of Japanese ancestry. This is Mr. Hashimoto, who owned the drugstore here in town, on corner of Fifth and Jackson, he is examining the quality of the mochi. These are the boys from the Santa Clara Valley pounding rice to make this rice cake. This is an annual fair and it's a custom of Japanese person, Japanese ancestry.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2005 Densho and The Japanese American Film Preservation Project. All Rights Reserved.