The idea of stew in Japan is all about the quality of the meat, and Japanese gyu is top-notch. The idea of exploring recipes, the combination of sake, miso, tomato paste, and shoyu has an umami-rich allure. But when you add some konbu, it takes on another dimension, and the saltiness is balanced with the mirepoix and sugars. No inhale the savory vapors and stand by until it is ready.