Six pieces of "mochi" pounded rice patty in miso soup are an excessive amount of carbohydrate, and Atkins diet believers would freak out if they even thought about consuming that amount. In fact, that would even be too much for even normal adult males to have in a single meal.
But mochi is a source of energy, necessary and easily digested by diplomat-turned marathon runner Mara Yamauchi.
"I eat lots of carbohydrates two or three days before marathons," said the 35-year-old British woman, who lives in Tokyo's Ota Ward with her Japanese husband. "I like them in miso soup because it helps digestion."