Suribachi

Suribachi (Jap.: すり鉢　or 擂鉢, Lit.: grinding-bowl) and surikogi (Jap.: すりこぎ or 擂粉木, lit.: Grind-Powder-Wood) are Japanese mortars with pestle. These mortars are used to crush different ingredients for Japanese cooking as for example sesame seeds.

The suribachi is a pottery bowl glazed on the outside and a rough pattern on the unglazed inside. This surface is very similar to the surface of the Oroshigane (grater). These bowls have a diameter from 10cm to 30cm. To use the Suribachi the bowl is set on a non-slip surface, as for example a rubber mat or a damp towel, and the surikogi is used to grind the material. Recently, plastic versions of the suribachi have also become popular, but they have a much shorter lifespan.

Reference: Japanese Cooking: A simple Art, by Shizuo Tsuji, Kodansha International (1980)