Japanese Food Tips

In Japanese cuisine, rice and miso soup are like bread and soup in Western cuisine. There are special vessels for rice and miso soup. Rice bowl (chawan) is described elsewhere, and this description is for miso soup bowl. Wan is usually called owan in polite Japanese language. Because Japanese use chopsticks, they eat miso soup directly from a soup bowl with chopsticks and not with a spoon. In many homes, ceramic bowls are used to eat rice, and wooden lacquered bowls to eat miso soup. The opposite is rare, and ceramic bowls are almost never used to eat miso soup. Applying lacquer to the miso soup bowl increases durability. Some bowls are expensive because it takes time and effort to make the bowl by highly skilled craftsmen. Some bowls are made of plastic and can be used in microwave ovens, and can be bought relatively cheaply at shops. Why don't you try eating miso soup in a miso soup bowl? You may find it is more delicious.