A kagami-mochi New Year's rice cake is prepared in the shape of a pagoda at Ishiyamadera temple in Otsu. Standing about 40 centimeters high, it alternates 25 round mochi with 20 mikan mandarins, and also contains such auspicious items as dried persimmons and kelp. Temple staff usually make the round mochi by hand with donated rice, but they were unable to do so this year as a result of the pandemic and purchased mochi instead. The cake was presented Wednesday as a ritual offering to the Nyoirin Kannon Bosatsu, the principal object of worship at Ishiyamadera. "We offered it to the Kannon with prayers that the coronavirus turmoil will soon subside and we can return to peaceful days," female priest Ryuge Washio said.
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