"Higher than the rooftops, the carp streamers fly~♪" May 5th is Children's Day, also known as Tango no Sekku (Boys' Festival). It's common to eat "kashiwa mochi" (rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves) to wish for the healthy growth of children, but in Hokkaido, you'll find "beko mochi." This time, we'll introduce the origins of this unique beko mochi.

Originally, there is a local confection in Yamagata Prefecture called "kujira mochi," which is said to have been introduced to Hokkaido and evolved uniquely into its current form (※There are various theories). As a remnant of this, some areas in the Donan (Southern Hokkaido) region still call beko mochi "kujira mochi."

In Hokkaido, it is strongly associated with the Tango no Sekku festival, but it's also often seen as an offering during Ohigan (the equinoctial week), at New Year's, and for other ceremonial occasions.

The typical Hokkaido beko mochi is two-toned, black and white, and shaped like a leaf, but there are various other shapes as well, including some shaped like a cow!

Because there are cow-shaped beko mochi, many people think the name comes from "beko," an old word for cow, due to its black and white coloring. However, there are multiple theories about the name's origin, including one that suggests it was named because the part mixed with brown sugar resembles a "bekko" (tortoiseshell) pattern.

As for how it's made, rice flour is mixed with water and sugar, kneaded, placed in a wooden mold to shape it, and then steamed to completion. There's even a theory that the name originated from the rice flour itself, "beiko." With its chewy texture and gentle, subtle sweetness, beko mochi evokes a sense of nostalgia. You can buy it at supermarkets and traditional Japanese sweet shops in Hokkaido for about 100 to 130 yen each.

In Hokkaido, "beko mochi" is a relatively common sight. If you've never tried it, be sure to give it a taste when you visit Hokkaido!