Japanese ceramic rice bowl, ŌSEN, white

Ceramic Japanese rice bowl, made in Japan

In Japan, the bowl is ubiquitous and is widely used during meals, from breakfast to dinner.  There are many kinds of bowls and each bowl has its own purpose. Some are used to make tea, sauces, or to contain rice, pasta or soups.

The rice chawan bowl or Gohan chawan "ご飯茶碗" is a bowl used to hold one serving of Japanese rice. There are several types and styles of rice chawan bowls, but the size is perfect for holding the bowl in your hands and bringing the rice almost to lip level.