Arare (あられ, pronounced a·ra·re, lit. hailstones) is a type of bite-sized Japanese cracker made from glutinous rice and flavored with soy sauce. It originated in Japan and was brought to the U.S. by Japanese immigrants who came as plantation workers in the early 1900’s. In Hawaii, the snack is often called kakemochi. Glutinous rice, sometimes called sticky rice, is the main type of rice grown and consumed by the Lao of Laos and Northeast Thailand, areas which are considered to be the primary center of origin and domestication of Asian rice (). It has been cultivated in this area for 4,000 years. ... Soy sauce (US) or soya sauce (UK) is a fermented sauce made from soybeans (soya beans), roasted grain, water and sea salt (US will use salt unless otherwise stated). ... State nickname: The Aloha State Other U.S. States Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Governor Linda Lingle (R) Senators Daniel Inouye (D) Daniel Akaka (D) Official languages Hawaiian and English Area 28,337 km² (43rd)  - Land 16,649 km²  - Water 11,672 km² (41. ...

There are many different sizes, colors, and shapes of arare. Some are sweet, and others savory. One, called norimaki arare (のり巻あられ) is wrapped with dried nori seaweed. Another, kakinotane (柿の種), takes its name from its resemblance to a persimmon seed. (Kaki is Japanese for "persimmon".) Kakinotane are often sold with peanuts, a combination called kakipī (かきピー). These are a popular snack to accompany Japanese beer. Nori (æµ·è‹”) is a Japanese term used to refer to edible varieties of seaweed in the various species of the red alga Porphyra, including most notably and . ... Species (kaki persimmon) (black sapote) (velvet apple) (date plum) (Texas persimmon) (American persimon) Persimmon most commonly refers to the edible fruit borne by some species of the genus Diospyros. ... Japanese beer had its start during the Edo Period when the Dutch opened beer halls for the sailors who worked on the trade route between Japan and the Dutch Empire. ...

Japanese typically consume arare to celebrate the Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri), on March 3rd, Girl's Day in Japan. The arare made during the festival are very colorful - pink, yellow, white, brown, light green, and so on. Regular arare can be bought throughout the year, but the colorful ones are only available around January to March in anticipation of the Doll Festival. A king doll, with two handmaidens. ...

Kakemochi is also a Japanese idiom meaning "to do two things or more at the same time."

See also

• senbei
• mochi