The real thing

On a speckled countertop, a Zojirushi rice cooker with a digital display showing 13:31 rests beside a brown paper bag of Japanese rice from The Rice Factory, which is tied with twine and lists its crop year as 2025 and weight as 2 pounds.

A bag of rice arrived today, grown in Niigata, Japan. Because Japan exports very little of its crop, I had to specially order it. In a traditional multi-course meal, plain rice is served just before dessert to be enjoyed entirely on its own. Adding soy sauce is considered rude. Having failed to replicate that perfect glossy texture and subtle flavor at home, I’m finally going to try cooking the real thing.

On a speckled countertop, a Zojirushi rice cooker with a digital display showing 13:31 rests beside a brown paper bag of Japanese rice from The Rice Factory, which is tied with twine and lists its crop year as 2025 and weight as 2 pounds.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *