Elementary school students in central Japan have been taught how to craft a traditional New Year ornament synonymous with the region -- rice cakes resembling flowers.
The hanamochi ornaments are red and white "flowers" made from small rice cakes that are wrapped around branches. They adorn the snow-capped homes of the Hida region in Gifu Prefecture in winter.
Fifth graders at Enako Elementary School in Takayama City on Tuesday followed the instructions of a woman who has been making the ornaments for many years.
They were seen wrapping the small rice cakes onto branches secured onto a base while striking a balance between the two contrasting colors.
The school says the rice cakes were made from glutinous rice the students planted and harvested themselves, with the guidance of local farmers.
A girl who took part in the event said it was difficult securing the rice cakes onto the branches, as the rice cakes sometimes spaced out or came too close to each other, but she had fun working with everyone.
The students will take some of the hanamochi home, while the remaining ornaments will be given to the farmers who taught them to grow rice and gifted to nearby welfare facilities.

Quiz 1:
In which prefecture can you find the snow-capped homes adorned with hanamochi ornaments?
A. Hokkaido
B. Nagano
C. Gifu
D. Fukushima

Answers: Quiz 1: C

Quiz 2:
What are the rice cakes in hanamochi ornaments made from?
A. Wheat
B. Glutinous rice
C. Barley
D. Corn

Answers: Quiz 2: B

Quiz 3:
What will the students do with some of the hanamochi ornaments they crafted?
A. Sell them in a bazaar
B. Give them to neighbors as gifts
C. Take them home
D. Donate them to a museum

Answers: Quiz 3: C