I debated calling this recipe sweet potato gnocchi instead of mochi but after some Googling, "gnocchi" would have been rather off.
The first time I had these sweet potato mochi bites was in Diamond Bar (or was it Rowland Heights?) at a small store (closed a while back...) that sold konnyaku and shaved ice and other rather healthy Asian desserts. I remember biting into the smooth chewiness and savoring the stickiness and subtle sweet flavor. My mom recreated them at home one day, and I was ecstatic.