The taste of 'Kamameshi' that reminds me of my grandfather
I would like to start 'Owner's Notebook' with a story about 'Kamameshi'. This is because Kamameshi was invented by my grandfather, Taro Kumazawa, the second-generation owner of Kaneko Sogyo. I feel a bit uneasy saying this outright, but I have heard this story from my grandfather many times since I was a child, so at least I believe it to be true.
According to my stylish grandfather, there was a time when he was drinking at his favorite izakaya, 'Asakusa Futaba', and suddenly felt like having rice as a closing dish. However, a single bowl of rice seemed too plain, so he came up with the idea of cooking rice just for one person and serving it. He collaborated with the owner of Futaba to create this. At that time, there was no pot that could cook just one serving, so they made one. To make it look good, they designed the pot with a high rise on the lid, and thought of a good way to serve it directly to the customers, which led to the idea of using a masu (a traditional wooden measuring box) turned upside down with a round hole carved out at the bottom to create a skirt. This is the story I have always heard from my grandfather. The idea of 'just for one person' is quite stylish and playful, which makes me believe this story even more.
A few minutes later, I opened the lid, and as I flipped the rice with a rice paddle, the fragrant crispy bits whetted my appetite. Each grain of rice absorbed the umami of the broth well, with just the right amount of chewiness, capturing the heart of any sake drinker. A moment of bliss, thank you, Grandpa.
Asakusa Futaba
Address: 1-6-4 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3841-5354
Business hours: 16:00 - 21:30 (LO 21:00) Closed on Thursdays
