Japanese-American hapa/hafu here, wondering what the difference is between the terms “kagami” and “okasane” mochi in regards to the traditional New Year display.
Significant other asked me to remind her of what it’s called, and I couldn’t give a good answer because for a long time, I’ve referred to it as okasane mochi. However, I’ve seen it called kagami mochi as much if not more so.
Does one term refer to just the mochi and the other to the whole display?
Before you ask, the google and my Japanese-American relatives have been no help!
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/18vj47d/kagami_or_okasane_mochi/
5 comments
I’ve never heard “Okasanemochi” but those names are highly regional. So where your parent is from, it may be called Okasanemochi. Nationally Kagamimochi is more common.
Ake-ome!
I live in Northern Japan and we say kagami mochi. “Okasane mochi” definitely sounds like one of the many regional variations on words. I wonder where in Japan your parents are from?
I have not heard of o-kasane-mochi but this made me curious. Looking around I think it’s used in Kyushu for o-sonae-mochi. Were your Japanese family from Kyushu by any chance?
O-sonae-mochi is for putting on the butusdan (or taken to the grave itself) and can be used any time. Kagami-mochi is for new years. I think they are basically the same “thing” but the decorations will be slightly different. Kagami-mochi will be celebratory and usually have little accoutrements like that year’s eto (dragon this year), a mikan on top, stuff like that. O-sonae-mochi is usually just plain and austere.
Okasanemochi is mainly used for product name
Kasane-mochi（重ね餅）: Refers to any type of mochi that is layered with rice cake.
Kagami-mochi: rice cake offered to the gods.
Actually, since layered mochi is used as kagami mochi,
I think it’s okay to think of them as the same thing.
“O” in Okasane(御重ね) is a respectful word.