PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mechanism and method for molding a tiny sushi ball, which improves the degree of completion for a tiny sushi ball having the surface with a firm texture and the inside with a fluffy texture.SOLUTION: The molding mechanism includes: a lower forming mold 7 for forming the lower half of a cooked rice Q a lifting cylinder part 5 in which the lower forming mold 7 is arranged in a liftable state an ingredient placement part 3 in a tray shape for placing an ingredient R having an insertion hole 4 at the center so as to communicate with the upper opening of the lifting cylinder part 5 a push-in mold 11 for pushing an ingredient R placed on the ingredient placement part 3 into the lifting cylinder part 5, while engaging the ingredient R to the upper part of the lower forming mold 7 through the insertion hole 4 and an upper forming mold 12 to be inserted in the insertion hole 4 for forming the upper half of the cooked rice Q.
