"kagami mochi": A LEGO® creation by Robbie Trengove : MOCpages.com

"kagami mochi"

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Another creation of mine in celebration of Japanese New Year.

About this creation

Happy New Year from Japan.

Kagami mochi, literally mirror rice cake, is a traditional Japanese New Year decoration. It usually consists of two round mochi (rice cakes), the smaller placed atop the larger, and a daidai (a Japanese bitter orange) with an attached leaf on top. It sits on a stand called a sanpô over a sheet called a shihôbeni, which is supposed to ward off fires from the house for the following years. Sheets of paper called gohei folded into lightning shapes similar to those seen on sumo wrestler's belts are also attached.

The kagami mochi first appeared in the 14th-16th century. The name kagami ("mirror") is said to have originated from its resemblance to an old-fashioned kind of round copper mirror, which also had a religious significance. The reason for it is not clear. Explanations include mochi being a food for sunny days, the 'spirit' of the rice plant being found in the mochi, and the mochi being a food which gives strength.

The two mochi discs are variously said to symbolize the going and coming years, the human heart, "yin" and "yang", or the moon and the sun. The "daidai", whose name means "generations", is said to symbolize the continuation of a family from generation to generation.

Contemporary kagami mochi are often pre-moulded into the shape of stacked discs and sold in plastic packages in the supermarket. A mikan or a plastic imitation daidai (orange) is often substituted for the original daidai. The kagami mochi is placed in various locations in the house as a decoration thoughout the new year period.

Due to a lack of gold bricks I settled on this chequered pattern and the only round orange part I had was this pumpkin minifig head.