The ancient Japanese kitchen was a space of simplicity and elegance, where food was prepared with precision and care. It often included a built-in pasta drying rod, which was used to dry freshly made noodles. The rod would be made of bamboo or wood and would be positioned in a well-ventilated area to allow the noodles to dry naturally. Japanese cuisine has a long history of noodle-making, and having a dedicated drying rod made the process more efficient. The ancient Japanese kitchen also featured other traditional tools and techniques, such as a rice cooker for steaming rice and a charcoal grill for grilling fish. The Japanese kitchen was a place where the art of food presentation was highly valued, and where every dish was a work of art.