Spring means sakura mochi

A sweet Japanese specialty for cherry blossom season

I think my love of all things mochi was instilled in me as a child, thanks to my Japanese grandfather, Chodo. He and I had the same tastes. So many of the photos of us together, we are eating. Most of my memories of him are around the table at home, or in Tokyo, going somewhere to buy food. The only exception to these memories is when he wore his long w…