Wash Rice

1. Add cold water to a large bowl of dry rice, swish from the bottom with your fingers and then quickly drain the water. Repeat two more times.
2. Add cold water to fill the bowl and then using your knuckles, gently wash the rice by in a swirling motion and drain water. Repeat 3 more times. On the last wash, use a colander to drain well.
3. Add the rice, cold water, sake and maple syrup to your rice cooker and let it soak for 30 minutes.
4. In the meantime, chop the sweet potatoes into 1-1.5 cm cubes and then soak them in cold water for 15 minutes.

Donabe:

1. Add salt to the rice and stir. Arrange the soaked and drained sweet potatoes on top.
2. Turn on the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil (takes about 10 minutes). Once you can heat it boiling, immediately reduce heat to medium low and cook for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, remove from the stove and let it steam for 10 minutes.
3. Remove the lid and gently mix the rice scooping from the bottom. Add the rice to bowls and top with black sesame seeds. Serve and enjoy!

Rice Cooker:

1. Add salt to the rice and stir. Arrange the soaked and drained sweet potatoes on top.
2. Turn rice cooker on to white rice setting.
3. Once complete the rice cooker timer goes off, do not open the rice cooker for 10 minutes.
4. Add the rice to bowls and top with black sesame seeds. Serve and enjoy!