On February 23, 2024, a ''mochiage power offering'' in which a giant red and white mochi was lifted up was held at Daigoji Temple in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City. This time, for the first time in four years, the race was returned to a competitive format, with men and women proud of their strength taking on the challenge, hoping for good health and the safety of their families.
This is an event of the ''Godairikison Nio-kai,'' a memorial service affectionately known as ''Godairiki-san.'' The men lift 150 kg of rice cakes, and the women lift 90 kg of two-tiered rice cakes. To prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, the number of participants was limited for three years starting in 2021, and each person was allowed to lift for a maximum of five minutes, but this time, for the first time in four years, they returned to the pre-coronavirus form.
The dedication began under ''adverse conditions,'' as it rained and the moisture made the rice cakes and wooden pedestals heavy (according to a representative at Daigo-ji Temple). Participants held up mochi with both hands on a special stage in front of the main hall. As his face turned bright red and his arms began to tremble, voices from the audience yelled, ''From here on'' and ``Do your best.''
In the men's division (17 participants), Naoyoshi Minami (41 years old), a temporary employee from Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture, completed 5 minutes 53 seconds, and in the women's division (15 participants), a company employee from Minami Ward, Kyoto City, Chihiro Kinoshita (34 years old) won each with a time of 8 minutes and 32 seconds.
Naoyoshi Minami, who won the crown on his ninth attempt, looked back with a smile and said, ''I'm so happy that my long-held dream has come true.I participated with the intention of ensuring the safety of my family.''
