Out with the old

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM The Rev. Yoshinobu Sato waved a cleansing wand, the "gohei," for the "oharai" blessing yesterday at the Honbushin International Center's Mochitsuki Festival in Mililani. The Shinto rite clears an individual of bad spirits, allowing good spirits to enter, he explained.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Chris Kuanoni pounded steamed sweet rice at the mochi-making festival as Taka Sato assisted with kneading and watering to create the dough used in Japanese New Year's cakes.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Fresh mochi was divided and rolled into balls by hand at the traditional Japanese festival. The labor-intensive project is a group effort, from pounding steamed sweet rice into a sticky dough to forming the mochi cakes, which can be filled with varieties of sweet bean or left plain.

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Mae Tanaka offered a young customer a taste of fresh mochi with azuki bean paste at the festival. The sweet cakes are one of the traditional foods made in advance of New Year's Day in Japan, when people do no cooking.