suribachi

Suribachi is a traditional Japanese grinding bowl used with a pestle (surikogi) to grind or mash ingredients. The interior is ridged to break down food and release flavors, while the exterior is often glazed and the inside left unglazed. It is commonly made from ceramic or stoneware and comes in various sizes. Typical uses include grinding sesame seeds into paste, pulverizing spices and herbs, and mashing ingredients for sauces and condiments.

The term suribachi derives from the Japanese words for grinding and bowl, and it remains a staple tool in many households and professional kitchens. It is commonly paired with a wooden or ceramic pestle and is valued for producing smooth pastes and evenly ground mixtures, such as goma (sesame) paste, without the need for electricity.

Mount Suribachi, also known as Suribachi-yama, is the highest point on Iwo Jima, a volcanic island in the Bonin Islands off Japan. The mountain rises about 169 meters (roughly 554 feet) and features a crater at the summit. It is widely known for its historical significance in World War II, particularly the Battle of Iwo Jima and the famous photograph of U.S. Marines raising the flag atop its slopes in 1945. The name Suribachi shares the same Japanese word as the kitchen implement, a reflection of the island’s cultural and linguistic connections.