FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 1/15/01 | Contact: Diana Smith, 719-389-6138  

COLORADO SPRINGS -- The Japan America Society of Southern Colorado and Colorado College will host a traditional Japanese rice-pounding ceremony to celebrate the New Year at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 20, outside the north side of Worner Center, located on the northwest corner of Cascade and Cache La Poudre.

Taking place in Japan on New Year's, Mochitsuki (rice pounding) is the process of pounding special glutinous rice in a wooden mortar using a wooden mallet. The pounded rice is then formed into rice cakes for consumption throughout the year.

Everyone in attendance will help pound the special rice in a wooden mortar, and all will be able to taste the rice cakes, which are seasoned with soy sauce, powdered soybean, and ginger.

Free and open to the public, this event is sponsored by the Japan America Society of Southern Colorado, CC's German, Russian, and East Asian languages department, and Jun Japanese Restaurant.

###   OFFICE OF COLLEGE RELATIONS 14 East Cache La Poudre Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903-3298 719-389-6603 tel  719-389-6256 fax