To serve, ladle the miso soup into 2 wide shallow bowls, scoop the noodles into the soup, and lay the bok choy and fish on top of that.

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The men, filthy from scavenging for belongings in the ruins, sit for a smoke and a chat, while the women prepare miso soup with vegetables, hard-boiled eggs and seaweed for dinner.

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The world even said good morning to a big wave of Japanese tourists by placing miso soup, rice, grilled fish and pickled vegetables on the breakfast menu.

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"I enjoy life here very much, " says Inokawa Tsurue, 80, as she pours another serving of miso soup for delivery to the homes of 80 elderly people.

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It turns out that the dashi, or stock, is incredibly easy, and from there, making miso soup with Andoh-recommended shiro miso is an absolute cinch.

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