A fantastic resource. This is one of the best Japanese cookbooks available in English. While most Japanese cookbooks overlap with other ones, this one has information not found in other books. This has one of the best sections explaining basic techniques and tools in Japanese cooking. Additionally there is a glossary of Japanese ingredients and lists of acceptable substitutions for Komatsu-na and other tough to find vegetables. For all this information alone it would be a must buy. While familiar recipes such as teriyaki and ohitashi are covered, there are also a number of recipes not commonly found in Western-published cookbooks. The IS an essential cookbook as the the title claims.