/internal/media/dispatcher/964169/resize%25253Aformat%25253DthumbnailTossing Mochi (mochinage or mochimaki) at the Launching Celebration for a Ship (jinsuishiki)about late 1790s–early 1800sUtagawa Toyokuni ITsuruya Kinsuke (Sōkakudō)Vertical ôban triptych; 38.3 x 75.6 cm (15 1/16 x 29 3/4 in.)Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperWilliam S. and John T. Spaulding Collection21.7780-20Triptych: 21.7780 (left), 21.7781 (center), 21.7782 (right)
Mochinage, the traditional good-luck custom of throwing balls of soft rice pastry (mochi) from a high place to a waiting crowd, is still sometimes practiced today for festive events such as the completion of the framework for a new building with the placement of the ridgepole. (Nowadays the snacks and small gifts that are tossed to the crowd are in plastic bags.)Prints38.30000000000.000000000048927601