1. In Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, a tradition dating back 380 years took place on December 5th, 2025. Men gathered at a temple to make mochi (rice cakes) as a gesture of gratitude for a bountiful harvest.

2. The men, wearing only white cloth around their waist, pounded sticky rice into blocks using mallets in a hall at the temple. They sang and raised the blocks of mochi paste to the ceiling before dividing them into smaller pieces.

3. The resulting mochi was distributed among worshippers, including local schoolchildren. They enjoyed the rice cake with toppings such as anko sweet red bean paste and natto fermented soybeans. A fifth grader expressed his satisfaction with the taste, hoping for a prosperous year ahead.