The New-Rice Set-Meal Diner
There's a set-meal diner that hangs a "free rice refills" sign only in October.
In October, when the new rice arrives, a handwritten sign goes up at this shop: "Free rice refills (it's new rice)." Once a year, for just one month. "Only when it's new rice, I want the rice to be the star. The side dishes, if anything, shouldn't get in the way."
The set meals' rice comes from paddies within walking distance. "I know not just the grower's face but where the paddy is. So I'm responsible for how it's cooked." On water, she said the same as Mr. Sato: with Higashikawa water, a touch less.
Only when it's new rice, the rice is the star. The side dishes shouldn't get in the way.
One noon in October, a young person at the end of the counter had three refills. Asked, they said they were on the way back from helping with the harvest. "Thinking it might be rice from the paddy I cut, I couldn't stop." That may be the shortest summary of this issue's feature.
