🍚 Heso Mochi (Dented Rice Cakes)

"Heso mochi" is offered on the 15th day of August or the 13th day of September of the old calendar when the night is perfect for moon-viewing. This sweet is unique to the central and western regions of Shizuoka prefecture, located on the west of the Fuji River. Another name for this sweet is "heso dango". It is made with Joshinko(=short-grain rice flour), which is shaped into flattened "dango" (=Japanese dumpling) with a dent in the center of each piece. In the past, it was always made with freshly harvested rice from that year and 12 pieces, 13 pieces in the case of a leap year, were offered on a bundle of fresh straw on the day of "tsukimi" (=moon-viewing). It was a tradition for children to go door to door on this day to receive the "heso mochi" being offered.