Category: Articles

Melody of Japan held its annual winter concert.

On Sunday, December 15th, Melody of Japan held its annual winter concert in Freiman Hall at the University of Ottawa’s Music Department.

It was a wonderful concert conducted by director Noriko Hashimoto and accompanied by pianist Kaho Sonohara. Although we cannot show you all the beautiful music, please enjoy the video and photos Nora Nishikawa took.

How to have your mochi&nbsp ✨️Part 1

Have mochi but not sure how to cook them?

No worries, we got you　🍴😋
Here’s two delicious ways to have your Mochi:

1. Ozoni (Mochi Soup)
A traditional Japanese soup usually eaten during the New Year’s 🥣 Each family tends to have their own unique recipe 💫

What you’ll need:

🍽 Mochi (if frozen, microwave in 30 second intervals till softened)

🍽 Chicken

🍽 Veggies (In video – lotus, carrots, mountain potatoes, daikon, shiitake)

🍽 Soup base (In video – using bonito flakes and kelp, can also be store bought dashi)

👉Steam and cut the veggies
👉Make soup base
👉Put cut up chicken in soup
👉Bring to boil
👉Meanwhile, cut the mochi into bite size pieces and broil them in the oven or toast in toaster oven
👉Once soup is boiling, put in the veggies
👉When the mochi is puffy and browned, take it out of the oven
👉Combine the veggies, chicken and mochi in serving bowls
👉Pour soup into the bowls
👉Bon a pettit

2. Oshiruko (Red Bean Soup)

A traditional Japanese dessert that is sweet and warm 

What you’ll need:
🍽 Mochi
🍽 Anko (Red Bean Paste – you can buy in store or make them yourself)
🍽 Water

👉Place Anko (red bean paste) and water in a pot (1:1)
👉 Add sugar to taste
*Please note store bought Anko may already be pretty sweet
👉Bring to a soft boil
👉Meanwhile, broil the mochi in the oven or toast in toaster oven till puffy and browned
👉Combine the red bean soup and mochi in bowls
👉Enjoy!!

Stay tuned to Part 2 where we will introduce more ways to eat your Mochi 🎉

For more detailed recipes on how to make Ozoni, Oshiruko, or Anko, we recommend the YouTube channel “Cooking with dog”🐶

Ottawa Obon 2024 report

We bring you a wonderful look at Ottawa’s first Obon ceremony, which took place on Bate Island on Saturday, August 10th, before dusk (and heavy rain) descended on the island.

It was a wonderful gathering. The park came alive with the beautiful yukata robes worn by many of this year’s attendees. The festivities began with the making of paper lanterns, which were then hung on nearby trees and around the ceremonial site to help summon the ancestral spirits to the gathering. This was followed by a hearty meal of potluck, dancing, and finally, escorting the ancestral spirits down the river to return them to their homelands.

Thank you so much to event organizers Shigemi Ichino and Mari Wellman, as well as to sound technician, David Okura who supplied expert services and technical support. The whole park was able to enjoy the sounds of our Odori dancing thanks to him!