Since the 1980s, Livingston United Methodist Church has kept the Japanese tradition of making mochi rice balls for the New Year alive and well through its annual Mochi Tsuki event. The church shares the tradition with the Central Valley annually, and the process is believed to bring about good luck as the New Year begins. It begins by soaking roughly 400 pounds of sweet rice for two days, which is then washed and transported to a grinder to help with the pounding process.
Japanese tradition continues in Livingston
