Wastefulness is a major concept in Japan – the word is used often. One example of avoiding wastefulness is the degree to which food is reused. As I mentioned before, after eating soba the leftover water from cooking it is made into tea.

Yesterday we made nabe – basically a large pot full of stewed vegetables, mushrooms, miso, etc. This morning Eri made zosui – the leftover liquid from the nabe mixed with rice.