In Shinano Province, the base of a kayu no ki is split vertically into four at Koshogtsu (around January 15); a piece of rice cake, which goes into the rice porridge, is inserted between the split ends and is used to stir the rice porridge.
信濃国では粥の木の根本をよつわりにして小正月、粥に入れる餅を挟んで粥をかき回すという。