10 Japanese Kitchen Brands That Will Transform Your Home Cooking!

Japanese kitchen brands are known for their stylish design, top-notch materials, and commitment to quality. But what truly sets them apart from other kitchen brands is their attention to detail, focus on craftsmanship and dedication to creating timeless pieces that will last for generations. 

From traditional cast iron saucepans to modern stainless-steel knives, Japanese kitchen brands offer a range of products that can suit any style or budget. With a wide variety of styles and materials available, you can be sure to find something unique and special from these top 10 Japanese kitchen brands:

Summit 

This Japanese company is an expert in iron cookware and makes sturdy and reliable pots and pans that will last for years when cared for correctly. Founded more than 70 years ago and based in Niigata Prefecture’s Tsubame City, the characteristics of their iron cooking pots mean that they have good heat conduction and are durable and scratch resistant.

Summit’s experienced staff use techniques that have been perfected over many decades to produce their iron cookware and their products are ideal for home cooks who regularly deep-fry, stir-fry, or grill food at high heat. 

Popular products from Summit include their deep fryer pots which are perfect for making Japanese tempura dishes, their mini pot series which features items like their tamagoyaki pan and mini deep fryers, and their professional-use flat-bottom Japanese wok.

Sori Yanagi 

From cutlery and cooking utensils to kettles and frying pans, Sori Yanagi is famous for making beautifully designed products that not only look good but are highly efficient and easy to use. In addition to household products, Sori Yanagi also designed metro stations, bridges, and the torch for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Despite their minimalist design, Sori Yanagi products are convenient and efficient with much thought and attention to detail put into the manufacturing process. One of the company’s best-selling products is its award-winning stainless-steel kettle whose design has been carefully thought out – from the wide base to ensure fast and efficient boiling of water to the cleverly designed handle for easy pouring.

KAI

KAI is a Japanese knife and kitchenware maker based in Seki City; the knife capital of Japan located in Gifu Prefecture. Knife-making in Seki dates all the way back to the 13th century, and the company is renowned for the high quality and sharpness of their kitchen knives. 

KAI’s extensive collection of kitchen knives includes their popular Seki Magoroku Damascus series, one of the most recommended knives for westerners just starting out with Japanese knives. Damascus steel is high-quality steel that is durable and flexible with sharp edges. As well as knives, KAI also produces a range of other kitchen products such as kitchen scissors and stainless-steel coffee drip pots.

Yoshikawa

Yoshikawa is one of Japan’s most prominent metalware manufacturers and is located in the small city of Tsubame in Niigata Prefecture, an area renowned for its metalware production. Yoshikawa produces superior kitchen utensils such as saucepans, measuring bowls, and cooking pots, however, it is their popular EATCO brand which features some of their most interesting products. 

The EATCO range of utensils combines the words ‘eat’ and ‘cooking’ to create a range of innovative tools that are fun and comfortable to use in the kitchen. Best-selling products include the Nulu Butter Knife which turns even the most hard-to-spread butter to smooth curls in an instant via its unique design featuring an angled handle and perforated blade.

AUX 

Another major Japanese kitchenware brand to come out of Niigata Prefecture, AUX which stands for ‘attractive utensil experts’, is probably most famous in Japan for being the inventor of the AUX Steam Grill which launched in 2010. The idea behind the product was to create something that makes cooking fish easier at home, although the design of the grill also makes it suitable for grilling and steaming meat and vegetables too.

Other popular products include their stainless-steel tongs which are designed to feel like you are using your own fingers instead of tongs when cooking or serving food. They are useful for tasks such as cutting garlic or onions to avoid getting the odor on your hands and when not in use they can be rested without touching surfaces, making them more hygienic.

Shimomura

Shimomura is a Japanese kitchenware brand specializing in making premium cutlery and other innovative kitchen tools. Their products are made by skilled craftspeople in Niigata Prefecture and the company has some really interesting and unique product ranges. 

For example, they have a range of kitchen utensils designed to be safe for use by children and elderly people, and another set of utensils made especially for preparing fruit and vegetables.

Popular products designed for preparing Japanese dishes include a gyoza mold which allows you to easily make your own gyoza at home without having to fold them yourself, and takoyaki picks to help you easily separate the batter and flip the balls without them breaking.

Wahei Freiz

One of Japan’s largest suppliers of cookware, Wahei Freiz has been producing high-quality kitchen products in the metalware-producing region of Tsubame in Niigata since the 1950s. They produce all kinds of kitchen products from pots and kettles to dish drainers and tumblers. 

Some of Wahei Freiz’s best-selling products include their tempura fryer pots which come with a detachable thermometer that allows you to monitor and control the oil at the right temperature. They also have special pots for preparing kushikatsu – deep-fried skewers, and a pan designed especially for cooking gyoza. Their beautiful metallic tumblers are also must-have purchases for keeping drinks cool.

Akebono

This major Japanese kitchenware brand specializes in producing high-quality products for everyday use that are efficient and functional. Examples of popular products include a magic rice scoop that stops rice from sticking to it and a clever 8-in-1 kitchen tool that includes a funnel attachment, a lemon squeezer, a spice grater, an egg masher, a cheese grater, a jar opener, an egg separator, and a measuring cup.

The Akebono Sushi Making Device helps you to easily make Instagram-worthy looking nigiri sushi every time you use it! This simple device is great value for money and stops the sushi rice from sticking to any surface, creating beautifully presented and delicious nigiri sushi.

Iwachu

Iwachu is a well-known Japanese producer of Nambu ironware, a traditional cast iron that originated in Iwate prefecture and is considered to be some of the best metalwork in Japan. This type of cast iron is known for its impressive durability and high-quality and Nambu teapots and kettles became much sought-after household items during Japan’s Edo period.

Nambu ironware is a popular material for making kettles and for use in tea ceremonies as cast iron is said to play an important role in the flavor of the tea. Iwachu’s products combine premium Nambu ironware with sophisticated designs to appeal to modern consumers. For example, this kettle features an attractive arare pattern that is often associated with Japanese design.

Hakoya

This specialist bento box manufacturer has been producing beautiful lacquerware and plastic lunch boxes since the 1940s, with each box designed and produced carefully and with attention to detail by skilled artisans. They also produce cutlery and chopstick box sets, tableware such as plates and bowls, as well as lunch boxes made especially for storing rice balls – known as onigiri in Japanese.

Examples of popular Hakoya products include this two-tiered bento box which has a separate layer to keep rice in and this cute bento box with a cherry blossom and rabbit design on the lid.