mochi mystery solved...

Conor says "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!"

What is this thing he's pretending to be, you ask?

Wikipedia explains:

"Kagami mochi (鏡餅, Kagami mochi), literally mirror rice cake, is a traditional Japanese New Year decoration. It usually consists of two round mochi (rice cakes), the smaller placed atop the larger, and a daidai (a Japanese bitter orange) with an attached leaf on top. In addition, it may have a sheet of konbu and a skewer of dried persimmons under the mochi. It sits on a stand called a sanpō (三宝, sanpō) over a sheet called a shihōbeni (四方紅, shihōbeni), which is supposed to ward off fires from the house for the following years. Sheets of paper called gohei (御幣, gohei) folded into lightning shapes similar to those seen on sumo wrestler's belts are also attached.

The kagami mochi first appeared in the Muromachi period (14th-16th century). The name kagami ("mirror") is said to have originated from its resemblance to an old-fashioned kind of round copper mirror, which also had a religious significance. The reason for it is not clear. Explanations include mochi being a food for sunny days,the 'spirit' of the rice plant being found in the mochi,and the mochi being a food which gives strength.

The two mochi discs are variously said to symbolize the going and coming years, the human heart,"yin" and "yang", or the moon and the sun. The "daidai", whose name means "generations",is said to symbolize the continuation of a family from generation to generation....

It is traditionally broken and eaten in a Shinto ritual called kagami biraki (mirror opening) on the second Saturday or Sunday of January. This is an important ritual in Japanese martial arts dojos.It was first adopted into Japanese martial arts when Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo, adopted it in 1884, and since then the practice has spread to aikido, karate and jujutsu studios..."

Here's a shot of the real thing, which decorated our table on New Year's eve...