HistoryThe rice cake was found in the area which centers in the Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and China. People in these areas like various kind of mash potatoes, and mash rice cakes. In order to make rice cake, they began to cultivate to produce grains. A dictionary before the 1070's recorded that the rice cake was originally called "Mochii" But in about the 18th century, people began to call it "Mochi", meaning rice cake. .
There are three theories in the origin of the name "Mochi".
"Mochizuki" meaning the full moon. 
"Mochi" comes from the verb of "motsu; to hold or have".The food given to us from God.
The people of the west and southwest islands called it the "muchimi",to express the meaning of "stickiness".
The round rice cakes are offer to a deity during the New Year's is called the"Osonaemochi", meaning rice‐cake offering. It was given such name because round rice cakes looks like the mirror decorating in the Shinto shrine. Rice cakes are not only eaten during the New Year's. But from not so long ago, it also became essential to eat during various festivals, and events of the year. For example, the turning points of labor for farming, wedding, birth, and funeral days.
The 11th of January is called "The Mirror Opening Day" in Japan.On this day, people cut the rice cakes into small pieces and then boil them with vegetables or red beans.
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