This is one of four photos submitted by John Nishio for Discover Nikkei’s Nima-kai 2020-2021 Oshogatsu Traditions photo activity.

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Our annual Nishio Mochi Tsuki has been going on in an unbroken string, since 1912, through two pandemics, and the WWII concentration camps.

My Grandfather considered the family mochi tsuki to be the most important event and custom that he brought from Japan in 1898. After his death in 1967, it was held by various aunts and uncles, and for the past twenty years, my Dad and now I, have kept it going. Our mochi tsuki has held our family and clan tightly bonded through tradition. At 99, dad is still living on his own and still remembers how to make mochi.