mole driving; ceremonial mole chasing
A traditional event held around Koshōgatsu (Little New Year, January 15th), where children strike the ground with straw bundles to drive away moles and pray for a good harvest.
See also: 小正月
On Little New Year, children performed mole driving to pray for a good harvest.
Common kana-kanji mixed spelling for this traditional event.
Kanji spelling using 土竜 for 'mole'; rarely used and may be unfamiliar to many readers.
Compound of もぐら (mole) and 打ち (striking), referring to the act of hitting the ground to drive away moles.