Japanese Product of the Week: Convenience Store Mochi

Walter:  There seems to be an abundance of snack foods at Japanese convenience stores.  Some American stuff like Pringles are popular, but you can also buy a variety of sembei (seasoned rice crackers), dried squid and tiny dried fish.  There’s a store in the basement of my office building that sells bento boxes to-go at lunch time.  I usually get some unagi (eel) over rice.  I found this little packet of mochi (rice made sweet by pounding and forming  into little “cakes”).  You pour the packet of soy bean powder (Kinako) into the main pouch, shake it up and you’ve got a bitter-sweet treat.  Tooth-pick is included.  Not bad for 120 Yen.