“The MAGIC of earthenware”

“CHA-KAI” (Japanese Tea ceremony)
Many foreigners who visited Japan were entranced by the wonderful atmosphere of the Tea Ceremony and recognized the emphasis the Japanese traditional culture gave this ceremony.  ALL CHAKI (tea bowls) for the Tea Ceremony are made of pottery/earthenware because it is thought to enhance the natural flavor and taste of tea that no other material can duplicate.  After mixing MATCHA (powdered green tea) with boiled hot water from CHAGAMA (heavy iron container), the CHAKI is easily handled by the tea person’s hands because the earthenware transmits little or no heat.

Ceramic/porcelain bowls cannot be touched with the same ease because rapid heat conduction to the outside makes it difficult to hold.

Many antique shops display and sell these CHAKI as a Japanese art-form and collector’s items. (possibly selling from $100 to $10,000 or more depending on the make of the bowl and the name of artist) However an unnecessary volume of boiled hot water will damage even these expensive CHAKI.  A very limited amount of boiled hot water is used in the bowl at a time. Please keep this concept in mind when you cook with Imperial Kamado as it too is made of earthenware.

“SUSHI shop” = “SUSHI bar”
Even nowadays, certain high-end SUSHI shops in the Kanto area in Japan use our Kamado to produce a special delicious rice, as well as one-of-a-kind specialties.  Because rice cooked with the earthenware Kamado enhances the taste of rice as compared to other rice-cookers, the Kamado echos & endorses our company’s motto “Tasting is Believing”.

Regarding the word SUSHI for the Japanophile, it includes NIGIRI-ZUSHI, MAKI-ZUSHI, TEMAKI-ZUSHI, CHIRASHI-ZUSHI, and OSHI-ZUSHI. The word SUSHI changes to ZUSHI for easier pronunciation when combined with other words. NIGIRI means to hold by hand, TEMAKI means to roll by hand, MAKI also means roll but with a SUDARE/MAKISU (sushi rolling tool), CHIRASHI means to scatter, and OSHI means to press. (however, we never say ZUSHI shop or bar)

“YAKI-IMO”
Japanese people love to eat “YAKI-IMO” [Japanese (baking) sweet potato] in the winter season, which they buy at the YAKI-IMO-YA (catering wagon) when it comes around to their neighborhoods ringing a bell about tea time in afternoon.  Our kamados were also used as MUSHI-KAMADO and were found in a corner of small Japanese grocery stores to bake ”YAKI-IMO’ for those clients who lacked time to bake their own. They are popular when a quickly planned party of family-members or close friends is desired.

Many Kamados are still in use for these YAKI-IMO pleasantries throughout the country side of Japan, because “Tasting is Believing”!!  Be sure to experience this taste treat if you are ever in Japan during the winter months. [MUSHI-KAMADO is a composite noun, coming from a combination of “MUSU (steam-verb), MUSHI (steam-noun)]  And KAMADO is a stand-alone as a Japanese word meaning “cooking range” (see A standard Japanese-English dictionary, 1924.P.470)