A Quiet Moment After the Event at Asakusa Shrine

When I visited Senso-ji the other day,
I noticed a monkey performance and a mochi-pounding event taking place near Asakusa Shrine.

I was lucky enough to catch the monkey performance,
but by the time I arrived, the mochi pounding seemed to have already finished.

To be honest, I felt a little disappointed.

Even Though the Mochi Pounding Was Over

At the site where the mochi pounding had taken place,
the wooden mortar and mallets were still there.

I saw people scrubbing the large mortar with brushes,
two men using quite a bit of strength to clean it thoroughly.

Nearby, someone was taking down the red-and-white decorations,
while others casually chatted as they kneaded what was likely leftover mochi rice.

It was quiet,
but there was a warmth in the air that felt very human.

A Childhood Memory Suddenly Came Back

Watching this scene,
a memory from my childhood New Year celebrations suddenly came back to me.

When I was in elementary school,
it was a tradition for my father and his coworkers to gather at someone’s house
and pound mochi together at the start of the year.

The adults would take turns pounding the mochi,
and I remember how heavy the mallet was when I was once allowed to hold it.

Because of that,
seeing my father swing it rhythmically always felt so impressive to me.
Even as a child, I remember thinking he looked really cool.

Why It Felt Nostalgic Even Without Seeing the Mochi Being Pounded

Since those days,
I’ve rarely had the chance to see mochi pounding in real life.

That’s probably why,
even though I didn’t actually see the mochi being pounded this time,
just watching the cleanup afterward made me feel unexpectedly nostalgic.

The way they washed the mortar,
removed the decorations,
and talked casually while working—

All of it quietly connected to my own memories of New Year’s traditions.

Because I Took Photos, I Realized This

If I had only seen this moment in passing,
I probably wouldn’t have thought much about it.

But because I took photos,
when I looked back at them later,
the emotions and memories from that moment came flooding back.

I didn’t witness the main event itself.
Still, capturing the scene after everything had ended
ended up being more meaningful than I expected.

Moments Like This Still Exist in Asakusa

Asakusa is often associated with crowds and lively scenes.
But if you look closely,
you’ll find moments that aren’t meant for show—
quiet, ordinary, and deeply rooted in everyday life.

What I saw near Asakusa Shrine was one of those moments.

And I’m glad I noticed it.