Kusa mochi

[1] Documents state that nobles were eating kusa mochi during palace events in the Heian era.

[2] Another purported reason for the change in ingredients was because Jersey cudweed is called Haha-ko-gusa which literally translates to "mother-and-child grass".

[3] Since the Edo-era, kusa mochi began to be used as offering for Hinamatsuri (the Girl's Festival).

[1] The reason it was chosen as the offering was because of the vivid green color that represents fresh verdure.

Research done in by the Hokkaido Tokachi Area Regional Food Processing Technology Center has claimed that Japanese mugwort is effective in improving blood flow.

Jersey cudweed
Japanese mugwort (also known as yomogi)