This was submitted by Michael Brown, courtesy of the Higashida family, and submitted for Discover Nikkei’s Nima-kai 2020-2021 Oshogatsu Traditions photo activity.

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Preparing for New Year’s celebration, pounding mochi. Kunizo Higashida family, Panorama City, California, December 1956. A favorite photo that has been passed on to grandkids and great grandkids of this wonderful tradition.