Braised Beef in Japanese Style

Since in the past beef was expensive in Japan, few recipes were developed to use large pieces. My mother, who was raised in a nontraditional household with abundant chicken and meat, prepared this Japanese-style stewed beef dish from time to time in winter. Unlike in Western beef stew, the beef in this recipe is cooked alone until tender, when the vegetables are added. The beef and vegetables are then cooked together, and, at the end of the cooking, the broth is lightly thickened with potat