【Reading】えどびつ

【English Name】Edobitsu (Sushi Rice Container)

An edobitsu is a lidded wooden container used at sushi shops to store and keep warm the vinegared rice (shari). It is also called an "ohitsu" or "meshibitsu."

The material is often a conifer such as sawara (Japanese cypress family) or hinoki (Japanese cypress). Because the wood absorbs excess moisture and works to maintain moderate humidity, it is said to keep the shari from becoming sticky while also resisting drying.

Tools that are easily confused with it include the "handai" and the "hangiri," but these are shallow, wide tubs for cutting and mixing vinegar into freshly cooked rice, whereas the edobitsu is used to transfer the finished, mixed shari into it for storage and warmth—a clear distinction in use.

For sushi chefs, temperature management of the shari is an important factor that governs the finish of the nigiri, and the edobitsu is an indispensable presence on the sushi counter as a tool for maintaining the optimal temperature known as "hitohada" (body temperature). The "edo" in its name is said to derive from its having been widely used in the cultural sphere of Edo-style sushi.