just back from a month long trip to Japan and love the convenience of use the rice cooker that be in all the apartment I stay at . I decide it be a must have and buy this item base on the great review it receive . I be absolutely thrill with this rice cooker . it really be just so simple to use & the rice quality be great each time . I have to admit that I have not try use the `` fast cook '' feature so can not comment on that . if you have a small family & do not need to regularly cook more than 2 cup of rice , this should do the trick .