Wishing you a Healthy & Happy New Year from the Japanese American National Museum!
![janm_99.63.2_a New Year's mochi by Hisako Hibi](https://i0.wp.com/blog.janm.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/janm_99.63.2_a.jpg?resize=375%2C300&ssl=1)
This image is from JANM’s permanent collection. It’s a painting by artist Hisako Hibi and features a still-life of kagami mochi / okasane.
On the back is this inscription:
Hisako Hibi. Jan 1943 at Topaz. Japanese without mochi (pounded sweet rice) is no New Year! It was very sad oshogatsu (New Year). So, I painted okazari mochi in the internment camp.
Our cultural traditions bring our families & communities together, and has the power to give us comfort.