Beef, Potatoes, and Onions Cooked with Flavorings (Nikku Jaga)

This is a great, hearty one-dish meal that is easy to prepare. Enjoy!!
Ingredients:
10 ounces (300g) beef, thinly sliced (ask your butcher to slice it)
1 pound (500 g) potatoes (about 3 to 4 medium-sized)
2 bulb onions
4 teaspoons oil for sauteing
To boil ingredients:
2/3 cup water
2 Tablespoons sugar
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup sake (rice wine) or dry white wine

Preparation:
1. Cut beef into 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) long pieces.
2. Peel potatoes and cut into quarters, or smaller pieces if the potato is extra large. Soak in water for 5 minutes.
3. Peel onions and cut in half lengthwise. put each half cut-side down and slice into thin half-moon-shaped slices of equal thickness.

Cooking and Serving:
1. Heat thick pot with 2 teaspoons oil, and saute beef until color turns, or about 2 minutes. Take out and set aside.
2. Add 2 teaspoons oil to the pot. Saute onions and potatoes about 2 minutes, stirring until they are well-coated with oil.
3. Put in 2/3 cup water, sake or dry white wine and sugar. Boil until potatoes are half-done, then add soy sauce. Put beef back into the pot, and continue to boil until potatoes are tender, or about 15 minutes.
4. Serve hot in individual bowls with or without rice.