Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made by pounding glutinous rice into a paste and molding it into shapes that can be eaten right away or cured and dried for later use. Japanese farmers are said to eat mochi on cold winter days to increase their stamina. Samurai took mochi to the battlefield because it was easy to carry and to prepare. The sound of samurai pounding mochi was a sign that they were about to go into battle.
This fusion dessert of Japan authenticity and ice cream is now popular in eastern Asia and most western countries.