Tearaway Dulcia/Origin

Hichigiri (ひちぎり/引千切) is a rice cake made of bean paste. Due to its shape it is also called akoyamochi (あこや餅). First, create a round mochi paste with a small pit at the centre, and tear off one corner to make it look like a handle. (see pictures). Then put bean paste in the centre pit. It originated from the Japanese royal court, when they started making hichigiri when the court was short on manpower. Yomogi mochi and other grains or beans may be used for hichigiri.

Hichigiris are to be seen in many Japanese celebrations, but they are thought to be indispensable in Kyoto Hima-matsuri.