There are many different kinds of bowls used in the traditional Japanese table setting. There are soup bowls or Shiruwan (汁椀), small bowls, rice bowls or Ochawan in Japanese (お茶碗), and even ramen bowls or ramen Bachi (ラーメン鉢).
Soup Bowl and Small Bowls
Soup bowls as implied are used to serve hot soup. Most soup bowls are made from wooden material but also come in ceramic styles with intricate designs. Some popular Japanese soup bowl dishes include Oyakodon, Chicken Katsudonm, and Pork Curry Donburi. Small bowls at the Japanese table are used to hold salads, hot pots, or special delicacies called Chinmi. Some favorite recipes for small bowls are Gyudon or a Japanese beef bowl.
Ramen Bowls and Rice Bowls
Rice bowls and Ramen bowls are respectively used for rice and ramen based dishes. Some popular dishes for these bowls include udon or soba noodles. Rice can be served alone in the rice bowl or with other toppings or sauces.
The Difference between Japanese and Western Bowls
The most noticeable difference between Japanese and Western bowls is the material used to create these bowls. Western bowls are made from stronger materials such as porcelain. This is due to the traditional use of forks, spoons, and knives in western eating, to avoid damages to the tableware, the material needs to be tougher.
Japanese bowls are commonly made from wood or a sort of pottery clay. Many Japanese dishes are eaten with chopsticks and even held in their hands, so the need for a softer, lighter material is almost necessary.
FAQs
Bowl is called "Wan" or "Owan" in Japan, and refers to a category of tableware that is deep in depth. In particular, Wan is designed to be lightweight because it is meant to be lifted with one hand, whereas a bowl that is not lifted but left on the table is called “Hachi”.
What are Japanese food bowls called? ›
There are many different kinds of bowls used in the traditional Japanese table setting. There are soup bowls or Shiruwan (汁椀), small bowls, rice bowls or Ochawan in Japanese (お茶碗), and even ramen bowls or ramen Bachi (ラーメン鉢).
What is the difference between a rice bowl and a miso bowl? ›
Rice bowls are typically small, allowing for the perfect portion of rice. They are traditionally served to the side of your main plate. Miso soup bowls are deeper and more narrow, ideal for sipping the broth while enjoying the ingredients. Miso soup bowls also commonly come with a lid to help keep the soup warm.
What tableware do Japanese use? ›
On a Japanese table, you'll find porcelain plates, glass cups, lacquered soup bowls, rice bowls for each person, chopsticks in sizes perfect for each person, and more. A variety of tableware of varying materials, shapes, and sizes are spread out on a single table.
What are Japanese plates called? ›
“Sara” is a Japanese word for “dish” or “plate.” Many sara are round-shaped, but they also come in a variety of shapes like square, or long and narrow. The rim is usually more or less higher than the center, so that it is convenient for holding food.
What are those Zen bowls called? ›
Oryoki, or Patra in Sanskrit, known as "Bhudda Bowl" in West. It is refers to the personal serving utensils used by the Buddhist practitioners of Zen Buddhism.
What is a Japanese noodle bowl called? ›
1. Menbachi (麺鉢) The name of this bowl literally means “noodle bowl”. The shape of this bowl is usually bigger and deeper than other regular bowls. In addition, this bowl has a large and wide opening, which makes it best used for noodles that come with a lot of soup.
Why do miso bowls have lids? ›
The lid keeps the soup hot and the dust out.
Back in the olden days (i.e., 300-400 years ago) in Japan, the kitchen was far away from the dining area, so they used lids to keep the soup warm. The lid also kept the dust out while transporting the soup.
What is a sushi rice bowl called? ›
The Sushi Rice Bowl, called "Hangiri" in Japanese, is for mixing sushi rice, serve to absorb moisture from recently cooked rice and allow the rice to cool down quickly great for preparing and mixing the rice with seasons or sauce.
Why do Japanese use small bowls? ›
The Japanese word "Kobachi" means "Ko" (small) and "Bachi" = "Hachi” (bowl), in other words, a small bowl. It is used to serve appetizers for one person, and several food with Kobachi can be prepared to make the table look vibrant and gorgeous.
Alerting All Senses Number 5
The Japanese believe that you have to employ all five senses when eating. Thus, they arrange their meals so that they will look attractive to the diner.
What is a kobachi bowl? ›
What is Kobachi? Kobachi meaning "small bowl". It is a small and elegant dinnerware used in authentic Japanese cuisine with a variety of small appetizers. In casual settings, it is also used as a vessel for Kobachi sauces.
Are Japanese plates legal in the US? ›
In the United States, foreign license plates are generally not allowed for regular, day-to-day use on vehicles. U.S. states and territories have specific regulations regarding vehicle registration, and they typically require vehicles to display valid and current license plates issued by that state or jurisdiction.
What is the yellow plate in Japan? ›
Keijidosha cars (yellow license plates) are smaller vehicles that must conform to strict size, weight and power restrictions. In return, they enjoy several tax and toll breaks, and relaxed ownership regulations that make them cheaper and easier to own than regular cars (white license plates).
What does kozara mean in Japanese? ›
"Kozara" Side Plate
"Ko" means "small" and "Zara" = "Sara" means "plate", meaning a small plate. It would be just the right size for a side plate for serving appetizers or desserts.
What are Japanese Poke bowls? ›
Poke is a dish made with raw fish served over rice in a bowl along with various toppings. Originating from the Polynesian Islands, it became a mainstay of Hawaii, where ingredients from Japan were introduced, such as soy sauce.
What is Kokoro bowls? ›
A combination of our mouthwatering beef, juicy teriyaki chicken, and fresh steamed vegetables. Served over steamed rice.
What is Donburi bowl called? ›
Later, in the Edo period (1603-1867), restaurants called “kendon-ya”, specialized in this unique dish served in a bowl which was named “kendonburi-bachi” and was then abbreviated to donburi-bachi then quite simply "donburi".
