Dallas-Fort Worth Organizations Announce 2026 Mochitsuki New Year's Celebration at UT Dallas

The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, the Crow Museum of Asian Art, and the Center of Asian Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas, along with the Dallas Japanese Association, have announced the 2026 Mochitsuki New Year's Celebration. The event will take place on Sunday, January 11, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Edith and Peter O'Donnell Jr. Athenaeum on the UT Dallas campus. Admission is free, and all attendees will receive free freshly made mochi, a cherished Japanese New Year treat. Mochitsuki—the traditional ceremony of pounding rice into mochi—is one of Japan's most iconic ways to welcome the New Year, symbolizing good health, longevity, and community unity.

This annual event invites the Dallas-Fort Worth community to experience Japanese traditions firsthand through demonstrations, tastings, and hands-on cultural activities. Highlights include live Mochitsuki demonstrations, freshly prepared mochi for all guests, and traditional Japanese New Year activities such as calligraphy, nengajo card displays, kendama, koma, and fukuwarai. Cultural performances by local artists, ikebana or bonsai displays, a special exhibit of Nengajo contest winners from JASDFW outreach schools, and a tour of the Crow Museum of Asian Art are also planned. Grant Hiroshi Ogata, President of the Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, expressed excitement about welcoming the community to celebrate and learn about Japanese culture in a festive environment at the new building.

The Mochitsuki New Year's Celebration is sponsored by the Crow Museum of Asian Art and the Center for Asian Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas, whose support makes this vibrant community gathering possible. The event will be held at the Crow Museum of Asian Art on the UT Dallas Campus, located at 777 Loop Rd. SW, Richardson, TX, 75080. Admission and parking are free, and attendees can reserve their spot by visiting https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mochitsuki-tickets-1975055554330?aff=oddtdtcreator. This celebration matters as it fosters cultural exchange and community unity, offering an accessible way for people in North Texas to engage with Japanese traditions and strengthen cross-cultural understanding, which is vital in today's globalized society.