noun
red and white oval rice cakes
A traditional Japanese sweet made from glutinous rice, often associated with celebratory occasions and the New Year.
お正月に鳥の子餅を食べる習慣があります。
There is a custom of eating torinoko-mochi at New Year's.
鏡餅 is a larger, round, stacked rice cake used as a New Year decoration, while 鳥の子餅 are smaller, oval, and often red and white.
The name 鳥の子 (torinoko, 'bird's child') refers to the oval shape resembling an egg. The exact origin of the sweet is uncertain, but it is a traditional wagashi.