Sakura Mochi (Cherry Blossom Pounded Rice Cake)

Brand: Yamazaki

Cost: ~100 yen

Found at: Lawson’s

Cherry Blossom (Sakura) season is HERE! And the world has gone pink. Cars have slowed down to admire the buds, shops have exploded with pink decorations, and outcroppings of semi-sober family picnics have sprung up on every lawn in every park with sufficient amounts of the iconic trees. Cherry blossoms are not just for tourists, they are a local institution, a highly anticipated seasonal divider, and at times an absolute mania. And I’m here for that. For one week out of the year, the world can be pink and fluffy, the people happy and social, and the nights raucous and full of that festive spirit of spring. Soon enough, it will be back to “business and usual”- the same black suits on the same grey subway car going to the same city center on the same bland schedule – but not yet. Not until after the pedals all fall and coat the world in pink snow.

And what better way to celebrate the arrival of spring than with a Cherry blossom mochi. It’s not much different than your typical unflavored mochi. It does have a little extra flavor that is certainly pleasant but since I don’t know what cherry blossoms are supposed to taste like, I can’t vouch for its authenticity. All I can say for sure is that it is pink and that this certainly improves the flavor.