Cool and Nifty Japanese Kitchen Gadgets

A new release in Bandai Namco's Cook Joy series, this Gyoza Maker lets you make custom gyoza (potstickers or wonton dumplings) that come out perfect every time. Just place your potsticker skins on the rollers, add your filling (a special seal makes sure it lands in the middle), turn the crank and voila! Homemade gyoza. It's idiot-proof and fun, and even includes a second set of rollers for making wontons.

The Cook Joy Gyoza Maker is available at Japan Trend Shop

You and your kids will have a grand old time making fresh homemade sushi with the Norimaki Makki Sushi Roll Maker from Bandai. Simply load the chamber with sushi rice and whatever fillings you desire, close, add nori (seaweed paper) or other wrappers such as ginger, and roll. You can now have instant maki sushi with ease and there is even an option to make special character designs just for kicks!

The Norimaki Makki Sushi Roll Maker is available at Japan Trend Shop

Taiyaki are grilled, fish-shaped Japanese waffles packed with different kinds of delicious fillings. Usually, a stovetop and grill pan are necessary to cook them but with Takara Tomy's Oyako Microwave Taiyaki Maker, you can make them in 100 seconds flat. That's right, no stove required! This set covers all the steps, from mixing the ingredients to molding the Taiyaki. Make savory taiyaki for lunch, or anko (sweet bean) taiyaki for a snack or dessert.

Watch the video tutorial and see how to use this kitchen tool.

The Oyako Microwave Taiyaki Maker is available at Japan Trend Shop

Pack an extra special lunch for your kids with the Ichi Ni Sando Sandwich Press from Bandai. "Ichi, Ni, San" translates to "one, two, three" in Japanese which sums up how easy this fun kitchen accessory is to use. Create original sandwich designs with your kids, pressing them into cute shapes. No batteries or messy cords, just fresh sandwich ingredients and creativity are necessary. Perfect for birthday parties, or to make ordinary lunchboxes into festive treats.

The Ichi Ni Sando Sandwich Press is available at Japan Trend Shop

The Kururin Mochi Rice Cake Maker is a cooking toy that lets you create delicious rice cakes with your kids in the comfort of your own home. This tool turns cooking into a fun family activity and also lets you experience Japanese-style cuisine. Mochi (rice cakes) are super simple to make - just put in the cooked rice, turn the handle for 5 minutes, wait 10 more and then you have your cakes. You can then flavor and decorate them as you like.

The Kururin Mochi Maker is available at Japan Trend Shop

Takoyaki are octopus balls sold on the streets in Japan. They are difficult to make on your own but the Takoyaki Factory Ton Ton makes it easy. The apple red tabletop cooker fitted with a non-stick molded plate makes a dozen fluffy takoyaki balls measuring 4cm across, and all you have to do is sit back and watch.

If octopus makes you feel queasy, don't worry! Just about anything can be put into the Takoyaki Factory (shrimp, chicken, cheese - be creative with your fillings!)

The Takoyaki Factory Ton Ton is available at Japan Trend Shop

Now, making fresh Japanese soba at home is easy with Ie Soba (Home Soba) from Takara Tomy and it takes only 20 minutes to finish. Ie Soba includes all the tools you need to make great soba, and the ingredients themselves (buckwheat powder, wheat flour) are inexpensive and readily available online and at Asian food shops. You can save money and have real, fresh soba anytime.

Watch the video tutorial and see how to use this kitchen tool.

The Ie Soba Home Soba Maker is available at Japan Trend Shop

Pasta Pasta Maker makes it easy to create delicious Italian pasta from the comforts of home. Starting with refrigerated pasta dough, it's a snap to use the included stamps, crank, and molds to make eight different types of pasta. All the parts are machine-washable so clean-up is a breeze. If you've never had pasta made from scratch, it's time you do yourself a favor.

Watch the video tutorial and see how to use this kitchen tool.

The Pasta Pasta Maker is available at Japan Trend Shop

Now it's easy to make soft serve ice cream at home. The Sugar Bunnies Soft Cream Maker from Takara Tomy, a cute candy colored ice cream maker, uses only natural ingredients already found in your kitchen. Simply add ice, pour in the mix, turn the handle, and voila! Sculpted turrets of delicious soft ice cream. Let your kids go nuts with the toppings. Featuring Sanrio characters the Sugar Bunnies, this soft serve ice cream maker makes special occasions memorable.

Available at Japan Trend Shop

Ame de Wataame (Cotton Candy from Candy) is no ordinary home cotton candy maker. Instead of making standard varieties of cotton candy, you can make it from your favorite real candy. Even sugar-free variants will work. Simply insert a compatible candy (or mix a few together) into the top loader and turn the lever to drop it into the heater. After turning on the heater, you can use a chopstick or other stick to make delicious cotton candy.

Watch the video tutorial and see how to use this kitchen tool.

The Custom Cotton Candy Maker is available at Japan Trend Shop

Sanrio characters the Sugar Bunnies make cooking fun with their latest kitchen toy, the Choco Fountain from Takara Tomy. This cute kitchen gadget uses ingredients you already have in the kitchen like regular chocolate syrup. Coat fruit, marshmallows, cookies - anything - with the chocolate cascading from the pretty pastel fountain. Your kids will love how regular after-school snack time can instantly become a fondue party. This is fun to have around for birthdays and special occasions too.

Watch the video tutorial and see how to use this kitchen tool.

The Sugar Bunnies Choco Fountain is available at Japan Trend Shop