The Taste of a High-End Japanese Restaurant at Home. The Blissful Atmosphere Created by Ceramic Pot Rice Cookers

Since developing the industry’s first ceramic pot rice cooker in 2006, Tiger Corporation has continued to innovate and refine its technology to this day, all to cook the most delicious rice possible. What were the thoughts and intentions behind the development of the ceramic pot rice cooker, which can now be called Tiger’s flagship product? We spoke with Atsushi Tsujimoto, Manager of Product Planning Team 1, Solution Group, who oversees product planning for rice cookers.

A “Rewarding” Experience Created by Fire and Bubbles

Our goal was to recreate the deliciousness of rice cooked over an open fire at a ryotei (a high-end traditional Japanese restaurant). Tiger has been researching “why cooking rice in a donabe (ceramic pot) makes it so delicious” for 20 years. When we measured a ceramic pot during cooking using thermography, we discovered that the center of the pot’s bottom was the hottest, transferring heat slowly to the surrounding areas. This temperature difference creates intense thermal convection, allowing heat to be firmly transferred to every single grain of rice.

“If only we could easily achieve this in a rice cooker…” That desire had been with us for a long time.

To achieve this, we developed the “300°C Double-Layer IH.” It transmits heat to the bottom of the pot with an overwhelming maximum firepower of approximately 300°C, creating a temperature difference between the upper and lower sections. This allowed us to reproduce the temperature gradation of open-fire cooking.

Another unique characteristic of the ceramic pot is the “bubbles.” A large amount of fine, uniform bubbles wrap around the rice grains, protecting their surface. This means that even with intense convection, the grains do not collide and damage each other. This locks in the starch, keeping the rice full of sweetness while maintaining its firmness and glossy texture.

We named this feature “Donabe Gohobi-Daki” (Ceramic Pot “Reward” Cooking), hoping that the firm texture and sweetness created by the fire and bubbles would serve as a “reward” (gohobi) for our customers.

Minimizing Dimensional Errors by Adjusting Clay Blends to Match Seasons and Climates

Because ceramic pots are made from natural clay, they shrink during the firing process. It is common for standard earthenware pots used for home cooking to have individual size differences of 1 to 2 cm.

However, to install a pot into a rice cooker and apply pressure for cooking, dimensional errors must be kept within the millimeter range. To resolve this challenge, Tiger carefully selects dozens of types of clay and adjusts the blend according to the season and climate, ensuring that dimensional errors are kept constant.

Cooking delicious rice is actually a very difficult process that requires a lot of effort. To create a rice cooker that can cook delicious rice with the touch of a single button, we need to manufacture ceramic pots with the highest possible precision. Sparing no effort to achieve this is one of our strong commitments.

Furthermore, the strength of Tiger’s ceramic pots is approximately double that of general earthenware pots, and they are made so that they will not break if dropped on typical flooring. Of course, depending on how it falls, there is a risk it may break. Therefore, we offer a 5-year warranty.

Additionally, optimal cooking settings can be applied for 70 specific varieties of domestic rice. We achieved this scientifically analyzing the characteristics of each brand from data on over 5,000 types of rice, with the cooperation of the “International Contest on Rice Taste Evaluation,” which organizes the annual competition to decide the world’s best rice.

Balancing Moving Deliciousness with Timeless Design

To reiterate, our goal is the clay pot rice cooked over an open fire served at the end of a meal at a ryotei. One bite, and the sweetness of the rice spreads through your mouth, moving you from the bottom of your heart to think, “This is delicious.” We want families to experience that emotion at home. We are proceeding with development with that single-minded determination.

I especially want people who are particular about the taste of their rice to try it. It can cook not only brand-name rice and newly harvested rice deliciously, but also rice that has been stored for some time since harvest.

We are also particular about the design of the rice cooker. In recent years, the trend for kitchen appliances has shifted from designs that “stand out” to those that “blend in.” Therefore, we chose a matte finish that does not give off a cluttered “appliance” feel. We want customers to use it with affection for a long time, so while keeping a simple, timeless design, we also consciously incorporated the warmth and gentleness that Tiger values.

A Page of “Happy Family Gatherings” Fulfilled by Delicious Rice

For me, the memory of a “happy family gathering” (danran) is eating rice while sitting around a shichirin (charcoal brazier) in the garden of my parents’ house with my relatives’ children. I also recall how, when we had barbecues in the garden as children, the neighbors would gather, drawn by the smell. Delicious rice naturally brings people together. I believe it truly has the power to create “happy family gatherings.”

Creating Happy Spaces Through Rice, Never Forgetting the Customer’s Perspective

What I am conscious of when planning and developing products is “not to create products based on the manufacturer’s ego.” The development side inevitably wants to add new functions, but we try to stand in the customer’s shoes and ask: Is this truly valuable? Does adding this actually make it inconvenient?

To hear the honest opinions of customers, we visit stores to speak directly with staff and review questionnaires from users, incorporating everyone’s feedback into the specifications.

We receive various opinions, but ultimately, what is most sought after is simply “the deliciousness of the rice.”

Some households may feel that “rice exists to accompany side dishes,” but I believe that rice cooked in a Ceramic Pot Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker can be the protagonist of the meal. The moment you open the lid, the steam rises gently; when served in a bowl, you feel the graininess and aroma; and when you take a bite, you suddenly smile. I want to create spaces that symbolize such “happy family gatherings.”

I Want People to Enjoy Delicious Rice Even in Their Busy Daily Lives

I want to further pursue the ability to cook delicious rice easily and without stress, even in the midst of a busy life. I believe we are currently making rice cookers that cook the most delicious rice in the world, but I think there is still room to enhance that deliciousness.

I feel that the standard of deliciousness customers demand is rising, so I want to develop rice cookers that can cook even better rice and let people all over the world know the deliciousness of Japanese rice.

ご泡火炊きSeries