Mochi was made as an annual event, just prior to New Year's Eve. The rice was steamed and pounded into dough and small cakes. Several vessels were used to pound the mochi, and were made to imitate the hollowed out logs that were used in Japan. The mallet was used much like a sledgehammer - neighbors and friends would work together with one person pounding, the others turning the mochi, and all calling out greetings such as "Good Mochi". This item was donated to the Galt in 1978, by Flo Senda, whose father once managed the Buddhist Church and Co-op store in Raymond.