Akoya-mochi is named after the Akoya shell (Pearl shell) which is used for pearl culture.
People say the origin of Akoya-mochi is that the local people gave to each other at the local events such as TENNO festival in Funakoshi, Shima-city, then they used as usual offerings to their ancestors.
The red, green, and yellow dots on Akoya-mochi pray for a good harvest, the surface asperity stands for the sea wave around Shima-city, and a rice grain on the surface stands for the pearl.
The festivals in Shima-city, Mie
≪January≫
Fire festival / TOTOTSURIAI in Funakoshi
≪February≫
Sweaty stone statue festival / ASEKAKIJIZO festival (★)
≪June≫
Rice Planting festival / OTAUE festival in Isobe (★)
≪July≫
TENNO festival in Funakoshi (★)
Pouring the sea water festival / SHIOKAKE festival (★)
KOJIMA festival in Fuseda (★)
≪August≫
BON festival dance / BON ODORI in Finakoshi (★)
Japanese hand drum dance / KO ODORI in Koka
Great Buddhist chant / DAI NENBUTSU event in Koka
SASARA dance in Tategami
BON festival dance / BON ODORI in Erihara, Isobe-town
Stone statue BON / JIZO BON in Matoya
Great Buddhist chant / DAI NENBUTSU in Nakiri
Animism ship in Hiyama-ji
Farewell to Animism / SHORO OKURI by torches / TAIMATSU
≪September≫
Straw sandal / WARAJI festival (★)
Anori BUNRAKU puppet show (★)
Great festival in Katada INARI shrine / INARI MAIRI (★)