The Ultimate Egg Over Rice

[7:00 AM]

Good morning.
Another day begins.
Mornings pass by in a rush.

I wake up as if pushed by the sound of the alarm, and get ready while keeping an eye on the clock.
In the morning, I stare down the clock, engage in a fierce battle with time, move as if driven by the second hand, and have no room for anything else. Before I know it, I grab my bag with one hand, slip my feet into my pumps, and dash out the door. I somehow manage to win against the morning by the skin of my teeth and slide onto the train...

"Mindful living?"—that phrase is nowhere to be found in my dictionary. Where can you even buy that?

[The trigger that changed me]

The trigger that started to change me.
It was a casual remark from my mother.
"You should eat at least a little something before you go. It's for your body, and for your brain. Eating breakfast wakes up your brain, you know."
Those words were directed at me, someone who always used "I don't have time" as an excuse to dash out of the house with nothing but coffee. That one remark from my mother kept lingering somewhere in my heart.

Let's try it just once...

[6:30 AM]

I try waking up just 30 minutes earlier than usual.
Even just a few minutes is fine. Let's create some "time to compose myself" for my own sake.


I stand in the kitchen and scoop out freshly cooked rice.
Steaming, piping hot rice🍚
I gently drop a fresh egg, just cracked from its shell, onto it. The roundness of the yolk, the transparency of the white. I focus my attention on that moment, just for a little bit. Even though it's just that, strangely, my feelings begin to settle.
A drizzle of my favorite soy sauce. When I mix it lightly with chopsticks, the scent that wafts up makes me finally feel that "morning" has begun.

I put my hands together
"Itadakimasu..."
The morning sun shines in through the window, sparkling.

Even in the midst of a busy daily life, just having this time to stop for a moment changes the flow of what follows. The brain's switch flips. The impatience eases, and I feel like I can regain my own pace.

Another start to a new day.
I am not swept away by time.
I feel like time is in my own hands.



"Oh, this might be nice..."


A simple bowl of egg over rice.
That bowl was packed with the nutrition to fill my body and the composure to settle my heart.

[A 1-millimeter touch of "mindful living"]

When I tap the shell, a small, clear sound rings out: "kotsun."
When I gently crack it with my fingertips, the plump, raised yolk makes an appearance, and it falls onto the white rice, coated in a thick, rich luster.
The white doesn't spread out, but maintains its firm elasticity, swaying as if it were alive. Just from this moment, I know, "This is a good egg."

[Choosing with a little bit of care]

Eggs laid by chickens raised freely on pasture are completely different in both appearance and taste. First of all, the eggshell is sturdy. You feel the difference the moment you crack the egg.

When you break the yolk with your chopsticks, the golden richness slowly spreads, clinging to every single grain of rice. Just a tiny drizzle of soy sauce is enough. You don't need anything extra. I catch my breath, thinking, "So this is what 'exquisite' means."
The initial thrill that hits you the moment you eat it is completely different.

I make it a point to spend a little extra on eggs.
I don't choose based on cheapness. I pick up something I'm a bit particular about, like 700 yen for six.
700 yen for six eggs isn't cheap. But to say it's "wastefully expensive" isn't quite right either.
The reason I choose with a little bit of care is simple: the "taste" and "peace of mind" are completely different.
The difference of a few hundred yen that I pick up at the supermarket returns as many times the satisfaction when it reaches the dining table.
It's a bargain.

[100 times more energy with a little morning luxury!]

Because egg over rice is simple, there is no room for deception. The quality of the egg becomes the taste itself.


The most important criteria for my selection are "safety" and "nutritional value"; these cannot be overlooked.
Eggs from chickens raised with care regarding their environment and feed are not only safe to eat raw, but are also rich in vitamins and minerals. Since it's something I put into my body, just by paying a little bit of attention, the daily accumulation will definitely change.

Even on a busy morning, just dropping an egg onto freshly cooked rice makes for a bowl that satisfies even the heart. No special cooking is required. The usual dining table turns into a moment of small reward.

[Making the Morning Your Ally]

Breakfast is often thought of as "sort of important," but it is actually a very sensible habit.

First, the most obvious reason is energy replenishment.
Since your body uses energy even while you sleep, your gas tank is nearly empty in the morning.

By eating a solid meal, your brain and body start moving smoothly. Your concentration and judgment improve, and your work performance changes as well.

Next is regulating your internal rhythm. Eating breakfast acts as a switch for your body, signaling that "the day has begun." As a result, your metabolism increases, and your daily rhythm becomes easier to stabilize. I felt that this influence also makes it easier to shake off morning grogginess.

Furthermore, it stabilizes blood sugar levels. If you skip breakfast, your blood sugar can spike all at once at lunch, leading to sleepiness and lethargy. By eating a moderate amount in the morning, those fluctuations become more gradual, making it easier to maintain your condition throughout the day.

And surprisingly, a big factor is "peace of mind." Even if it is just for a few minutes, making time to eat breakfast creates a small break in a hectic morning.

A sense of regaining your own pace in time that was just drifting by.

It does not have to be anything special. Even just rice and an egg will satisfy your body. In fact, because it is simple, it is easier to continue and easier to feel the effects. When that became a habit, I finally felt like I had conquered the morning.

[Egg Over Rice Has Infinite Possibilities]

A simple combination of just "rice and an egg." Yet, it changes its expression with every bite. If you change the egg, the richness changes; if you change the soy sauce, the aroma changes. Depending on how you mix it, it can be light or rich. There are few dishes as profound as this bowl.

For example, separate the egg white and yolk, and mix only the white into the rice first. After mixing it to incorporate air, dropping the yolk on top at the end makes the mouthfeel surprisingly smooth. Conversely, not mixing it too much and enjoying the richness of the yolk directly is also good. With just a slight difference, it becomes a completely different dish.

If you add condiments, the world expands even further. Chopped green onions, white sesame seeds, nori, and bonito flakes. If you add a drop of sesame oil, the richness increases instantly. If you want to go a bit luxurious, you can add whitebait or spicy cod roe. Canned tuna is also easy and hard to pass up. Each one brings out the deliciousness of the egg while introducing new flavors.


Even on busy days or tiring days, egg over rice will not let you down. In fact, because it is simple, it soaks right into your heart and body.


What kind of bowl will you have today...?

[🥚Egg Over Rice Recipes🍚]

1. Egg Over Rice with Only Salt and Sesame Oil

Enjoy egg over rice with sesame oil seasoned with salt.
I recommend coarse salt rather than regular table salt.
If you toast the salt in a frying pan, it will have a crunchy texture. Even with simple ingredients, adding this one extra step creates a very luxurious and delicious egg over rice.

[Ingredients]
・ Rice... 130g
・ Egg... 1
・ Coarse salt... 1/4 teaspoon
・ Sesame oil... 2 teaspoons

[Instructions]
1. Put the coarse salt in a frying pan over medium heat, heat until it is lightly browned, and remove.
2. Separate the egg into white and yolk.
3. Add the egg white and sesame oil to the rice and mix well.
4. Top with the egg yolk and sprinkle with the coarse salt.

2. Simple Soy Sauce Egg Over Rice

The classic egg over rice, a recipe enjoyed with soy sauce. It brings out the flavor of the soy sauce and is very deep in taste. Using tamari soy sauce makes it rich, while
using light soy sauce makes it a gentle flavor.
The sweet soy sauce from my local Kyushu is definitely the best!
It is also fun to make it with various soy sauces and find your favorite.

[Ingredients]
・ Rice... 130g
・ Egg... 1
・ Soy sauce... 1 teaspoon

[Instructions]
1. Separate the egg into white and yolk.
2. Mix the rice and egg white well.
3. Top with the egg yolk and drizzle with soy sauce.

3. Bonito Flake and Mayonnaise Egg Over Rice

Egg over rice made with the foolproof combination of mayonnaise and eggs. Using plenty of bonito flakes makes it rich in flavor. Adding mayonnaise creates a rich depth, making it perfect for when you want a hearty meal in the morning. A little bit of soy sauce and a dash of coarsely ground black pepper at the end turn it into a feast. If you replace the bonito flakes with canned tuna, it becomes a dish that even growing children will be delighted to eat.

[Ingredients]
・ Rice... 130g
・ Egg... 1
・ Mayonnaise... to taste
・ Soy sauce... 1 teaspoon
・ Bonito flakes (or canned tuna)... as much as you like
・ Coarsely ground black pepper... to taste

[Instructions]
1. Separate the egg into white and yolk.
2. Add the egg white to the rice and mix well.
3. Top 2 with bonito flakes (or canned tuna) and the egg yolk, then drizzle the coarsely ground black pepper and mayonnaise over the whole thing.

4. Salted Kelp Egg Over Rice

The combination of sesame oil and salted kelp creates a flavorful taste.

Rather than breakfast, this is a dish perfect for the night with a drink. Adding salted kelp really tightens the flavor.

[Ingredients]
・ Rice... 130g
・ Egg... 1
・ Salted kelp... a little
・ Sesame oil... 2 teaspoons

[Instructions]
1. Separate the egg into white and yolk.
2. Add the egg white and sesame oil to the rice and mix well.
3. Top with the egg yolk and salted kelp.

5. Korean Nori and Sesame Egg Over Rice

Egg over rice with Korean seaweed and green onions.
This is a recipe for egg over rice using Korean seaweed to fully enjoy the flavor of sesame. Mix sesame oil into the egg over rice, then top it with Korean seaweed made with sesame oil. Add white sesame seeds to enjoy the sesame flavor to the fullest. For those who like spicy food, adding a small amount of gochujang is also recommended.

[Ingredients]
・ Rice……130g
・ Egg……1
・ Korean seaweed……1 full sheet
・ Soy sauce……1/2 teaspoon
・ White sesame seeds……to taste
・ Chopped green onions……to taste
・ Sesame oil……2 teaspoons

[Instructions]
1. Tear the Korean seaweed into small pieces.
2. Separate the egg into white and yolk.
3. Add the egg white, sesame oil, and soy sauce to the rice and mix well.
4. Top 3 with the Korean seaweed and egg yolk, then sprinkle with white sesame seeds and green onions.

[8:00 AM]

"I'm off," I say softly.

Unlike the mornings until just a little while ago, I have just a tiny bit more room in my heart. Even though the rush is the same as always, strangely, there is a clear separation from yesterday.

I slip my feet into my favorite pumps and open the front door. The morning air touches my cheeks with a chill, and,
"Another day begins," I quietly switch on.

Just that. But my steps feel a little lighter.
When the way you spend your morning changes, the start of your day changes too.

"I'm off."
It's the same words as always, but today they sounded a little more positive.