Compare and Contrast Essay (Alvine Labana R.)

Japanese Mochi vs Sukabumi's Mochi

           Mochi is one of the most popular snacks in Sukabumi. It’s really popular on Sukabumi and also on its original, Japan. Mochi came from Japan, and it’s exist since centuries ago. Although it’s not originally from Sukabumi, it has been a part of Sukabumi since the era of Japanese colonialism. Some of people say that the Japanese soldier introduced the Mochi to the Indonesian in the Japanese colonialism era. Passed from generation to generation, Sukabumi’s Mochi still exist until now like the original Japanese Mochi. If we compare both of these Mochi, we can find several differences between Japanese Mochi and Sukabumi’s Mochi.

            These Mochi are made from similar ingredients, but they have a differences on the additional flavor. In Japanese Mochi, they usually add Anko (red bean paste) inside. Besides, there are some more variant to fill the Mochi inside. The Japanese use some kind of fruit as addition or alternate Anko like strawberry, melon, and orange. In the modern era, ice cream, matcha, pudding, and even coffee are used as the filling of the Mochi. Unlike the Japanese one, Sukabumi’s Mochi has a different way to add another flavor. They added the flavor to the glutinous rice and keep the sweet bean paste as the filling. Chocolate, cheese, durian, and vanilla are some of variant that Sukabumi’s Mochi had. There are some modern flavor like Moccachino, Tiramisu, Ovomaltine and Oreo as well.

            Japan and Sukabumi both offer a unique packaging to the buyer. Japanese Mochi usually packaged in a paper box or plastic bag. They make it very colorful and fascinating. We can find a box or a bag of Mochi with variant flavor and numbers in Mochi store or even the super market. Whereas, Sukabumi’s Mochi served in a bamboo woven box covered in a piece of paper. It usually contain about ten Mochi in every box. The seller usually stack up four until five box and tie it up before they sell it. Some seller served it in a paper box but the bamboo woven box is characteristic of Sukabumi’s Mochi. We can buy a box of Mochi in a gift store or some seller will approach us and offer some box of Mochi while we visit a crowded place like train station, bus station, traditional market, etc.

            There are special day to eat Mochi. In Japan, when the new year has come, everyone will celebrated Mochitsuki (Making Mochi), the pounding of glutinous rice to make mochi. The Japanese has been celebrating this event since Heian period (794-1185). In this festival, Mochi was actually eaten in hopes that it would make our teeth and stronger for the new year because Mochi that was set out as an offering was a bit hard to eat. On the other hand, Sukabumi doesn’t have a special day to eat Mochi. Sukabumi’s Mochi is still a good choice for a gift after visiting Sukabumi in holiday, even though there are no Mochi day in Indonesia.

            As shown above, there are three slight differences of Japanese Mochi and Sukabumi’s Mochi. Both Mochi are good snacks to eat with a unique thing. Variant of flavor between these two make their taste rich, the packaging is good and Mochitsuki is interesting. It’s hard to choose which one is better, but some people say the original is always better. It depend on our tongue, some people will choose the original and some people prefer the Sukabumi’s one.


Name : Alvine Labana R.
NIM    : 1830911039