Things That Carry Our Affection Forward -Azumaya's Kome-bitsu (Rice Storage Box)-

When I was little, my mother would chat away about whatever had happened that day while she cooked in the kitchen. Perhaps that's why the sight of her cooking, the tools she used, and the "delicious memories" that came with them remain so vivid in my mind.

Among these memories, the routine of cooking rice nearly every day—taking rice out of the kiri (paulownia wood) kome-bitsu, washing it, and setting the donabe (clay pot) on the stove—was simply part of everyday life. It wasn't until I became an adult that I learned kiri is an ideal material for storing rice. When that fact connected with my childhood memories, I felt an odd sense of wonder.

This is our series, "Things That Carry Our Affection Forward," which explores how something we've grown attached to and used with care can, over time, become someone else's cherished possession. This time, we're introducing Azumaya's kome-bitsu.

Azumaya's kome-bitsu is simple, without any ornamentation whatsoever.
Its form, free of rounded curves, even carries a certain dignified beauty.

As for why kiri is so well-suited to storing rice: the wood's natural properties have antibacterial and insect-repellent effects, protecting rice reliably from pests and mold. Its porous surface also excels at regulating humidity, which is why it has long been treasured as a household material in Japan's humid climate, used in all sorts of everyday items.

The upper half of the kome-bitsu's lid is a sliding door that opens smoothly, without catching. Seeing the rice inside somehow makes you feel happy. This sliding door is crafted with such precision that it closes perfectly snug, leaving little worry about insects getting in.

The lid can be removed entirely, making it easy to add fresh rice or clean the box. And of course, this lid also fits snugly without any gaps.

Made from solid kiri wood with no nails used at all, there's no risk of rust anywhere. As long as you're careful not to drop it and cause it to crack, it can be cherished and used across generations.

When the rice remaining gets low, transfer the old rice to a separate container and lightly wipe the inside of the kome-bitsu with a tightly wrung cloth.
Once the inside has dried, put the fresh rice in first, then return the old rice on top of it.

Azumaya's kome-bitsu comes with a masu (measuring box) that holds one gō. Measuring out rice from the kiri kome-bitsu with the masu makes cooking rice something to look forward to.

Since we had the chance, we tried cooking rice in a donabe.
A donabe made specifically for cooking rice is ideal, but you can cook rice in an ordinary donabe (or even a frying pan) just as well.

1. Wash 3 gō of rice and soak it in water for 30 minutes
2. Drain the rice in a colander
3. Add 650cc of water to the donabe, put in the rice, and cover with the lid
4. High heat until it boils → reduce to medium heat for 5 minutes → low heat for 4 minutes → turn off the heat and let it steam for 10 minutes

You do need to keep an eye on the heat, but once you get the hang of it,
there's nothing difficult or troublesome about it.
Rice cooked in a donabe has a wonderful aroma, and
each grain stands apart nicely—I highly recommend it.

Measuring rice from the kiri kome-bitsu with the masu, then cooking it in a donabe.
It makes for a luxurious and satisfying table.

---

【The Kome-bitsu in the Memory of Daily Life】

This time, quite unexpectedly, the kome-bitsu brought back memories of the dinner table from my childhood.
Delicious meals stay in our memories, and it seems various tools colored the scenery of everyday life around them.

I often think about various forms of "affection," but this experience made me reconsider how tools closely woven into daily life, like the kome-bitsu, may become objects of affection precisely because they're tied to memories from the past.

The kome-bitsu my mother used is still in active service in my parents' kitchen today, and it moves me to think that it will continue to connect meals and memories for years to come.

You can find the product page for the Azumaya kome-bitsu introduced here at this link.
※In addition to the 5kg size featured in this article, a 10kg size is also available.

You can find the introduction page for the brand Azumaya at this link.

---

【Rice Tools to Use Alongside Your Kome-bitsu】

1. Edobitsu 15C (with rice paddle)

2. Gohan-gama Rice Pot, 2-Gō Size

3. Hirajawan Rice Bowl ST-15

4. Koban Bento Box (Small), Fuki-urushi Finish

---

A Recap of the "Things That Carry Our Affection Forward" Series

【Your Affection, Becoming Someone Else's】

There are reasons why we grow attached to things.
Because they're easy to use. Because they feel good. Because they're good for society and the planet.
What happens when we add one more reason: "Because I want someone else to use it someday"?

Wanting your child to use it someday. Wanting to give it to a friend one day. We take care of things so that, even after they leave our hands, they'll continue to be used, unchanged, in someone else's life.

Long-life products hold this kind of "joy after nurturing" in store as well. Durable materials that let you enjoy the changes that come with age, items you can maintain and keep using, makers who accept consultations and repairs—using such products with the feeling of "someday, for someone" gives rise to a different kind of affection than we've felt before.