Japanese Onigiri Rice Ball - Miniature Plastic Model

Description

Brand new tiny (please see size information below) Japanese rice ball plastic model.  This particular type of rice ball is called tenmusu in Japanese and features a single large shrimp (ebi) as the filling.  The shrimp is  positioned with the tail wrapped tastefully up and over the top of the rice ball.  Called onigiri in Japanese, rice balls are the original Japanese fast food as they are easy to make, tasty to eat and are consumed by millions each and every day.  Consisting of a round or triangle shaped packed ball of rice, onigiri normally include a tasty filling such as tuna, seaweed or pickled plums and may be wrapped in a sheet of thin dried seaweed (nori).  Available in Japan at convenience and grocery stores as well as from specialty shops, onigiri are a favorite at picnics, sporting events and other family, outdoor or recreational events.  Children in Japan grow up eating onigiri in the same way American kids grow up eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or Australians their beloved Vegemite sandwiches.

Popular Onigiri Filling:

1. Tuna and mayonnaise (tsuna mayo)
2. Fish flakes with soy sauce (okaka)
3. Grilled, salted salmon (sha-ke)
4. Pickled plum (ume boshi)
5. Cod row (tarako)
   Plus many others!

Size:
Height: 0.9 inches (2.2 centimeters)
Weight: 0.1 ounces (4 grams)

Honorable Food - Japanese Rice

The Japanese word for cooked rice is gohan which literally translates as "honorable food."  That a simple grain would be worthy of such a lofty title hints at the significance rice has played in Japanese history and culture.  For centuries rice was not only a stable of the Japanese diet but also served as an important form of currency.  Samurai warriors were once paid in rice and their status was, in part, associated with the number of koku (1 koku equals roughly 5 bushels) of rice they received as stipend from their lord each year.  Sadly though, the poor farmers who worked so hard to produce the rice could rarely afford to eat it, and this fact may explain why it is today considered bad table manners in Japan to leave even a single grain of rice in one's rice bowl.  Japanese rice is sometimes referred to as "sticky rice" due to the fact that when it is steamed it becomes very fluffy and sticky.  Sticky rice is excellent for eating with chopsticks and for forming into delicious rice balls called onigiri.  Sticky rice may also be pounded into a rice paste called mochi which can then be used with a wide variety of foods and is especially popular at new year.  As rice is the central component of nearly every Japanese meal it is not surprising then that each family member will normally have their own rice bowl (chawan), chopsticks (hashi) and possibly a chopsticks holder (hashi-oki).  These important utensils are available in Japan in an astounding array of styles and designs, allowing individuals to find just the right combination to suit their interests and taste.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact us anytime if you have questions or concerns about purchases made on this site.

• By Email: dinnerbytheriver@gmail.com
• By Phone: +1 949-466-0864
• Ship From Address:
  Art Hills Yada 501
  4-1 Yada, Suruga Ward
  Shizuoka City, Shizuoka
  Japan 422-8002

RETURN POLICY

• Eligibility: To be eligible for a return, the item must be unused, in its original condition, and returned within 60 days from the date of purchase.
• Return Process: To initiate a return, please contact us via the email or phone number above and within the specified return period. You will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.
• Return Shipping: Customers are responsible for the shipping costs associated with returning the item, unless the return is due to a product defect or error on our part.