In Nara, Japan, lies Nakatanidou, a mochi shop that is usually jam packed with tourists. They fill the shop in order to find delicious mochi snacks of course, but they also go to see the mochi making process as well. The mochi pounders match each others’ breathing perfectly while they smash away, and in the second half of the process they strike the mochi two times a second. They strike it at a fast rate while it is still warm to create the soft and sticky texture that mochi is known for. This method of mochi making was passed down to Nakatanidou’s president, Mitsuo Nakatani, from his home town of Kamikitayama-mura, in Nara Prefecture. Nara Park, which is famous for deer that roam freely throughout it, is nearby along with many other tourist spots. If you ever find yourself in Nara, why don’t you try taking a stop at Nakatanidou to see their super fast mochi pounding technique?

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English (Caption & Subtitles) Checked by Devin Vecchio