Essentials

Tokyo apartments are famously compact — and Japanese home cooking has evolved to fit tight spaces. Here’s how to equip a small kitchen for Japanese cooking. The Compact Tool Set In a small kitchen, every tool must earn its storage space. The essentials: Gyuto 180mm (shorter than standard 210mm) — One knife for almost everything Cutting board 30×20cm — Fits over the sink or in a narrow drawer Rice cooker 3-cup — Compact enough to store when not in use Donabe (small, 2-person) — One pot for hot pot, rice, and braising Frying pan 26cm — Versatile for stir-fry, okonomiyaki, and frying Space-Saving Strategies Magnetic knife strip — Frees drawer space, keeps knives accessible and dry. ...

You can make amazing Japanese food with just a knife and a cutting board — but a few specialized tools make the experience genuinely better. Here are the ones worth buying. Mandoline: Benriner (ベンリナー) The Benriner is the standard Japanese vegetable slicer. Adjustable blade for thickness, extremely sharp, and surprisingly affordable. Use for: Paper-thin daikon, uniform cucumber slices, potato chips. Care: Hand wash immediately — the carbon blade rusts fast. ...