The invention of the automatic electric rice cooker

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May 6, 2025

Dive into the fascinating story of the automatic electric rice cooker, invented in 1955 by Yoshitada Minami. Discover how he faced skepticism in the male-dominated appliance industry and found inspiration from his wife, Fumiko. The challenges they faced, from perfecting the cooking process to balancing family life, are highlighted. This innovation not only transformed rice cooking but also significantly reduced kitchen labor for women, leading to a heartfelt appreciation for its impact on domestic life.

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ANECDOTE

Ancient Proverb Guides Invention

Yoshitada Minami sought to create the perfect rice cooker inspired by an old Japanese cooking proverb.
This proverb guided the ideal flame control for making delicious rice, a goal he pursued through invention.

ANECDOTE

Doubted Project Becomes Breakthrough

Yoshitada received the rice cooker project as a way to keep him busy after sales dropped.
Industry leaders didn't believe in the product's potential, but he persistently pursued it.

ANECDOTE

Wife's Expertise Key to Success

Yoshitada involved his wife Fumiko, who had expertise from working in a restaurant, to perfect the rice cooker.
Her family background and skills were key in testing and refining the cooker design.

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In 1955, entrepreneur and engineer Yoshitada Minami came up with a way to liberate women from two to three hours of housework a day.

When his water-heating business started losing sales, he was tasked with inventing an automatic rice cooker – something which the men in the home appliances industry didn’t take seriously.

With little knowledge of how to make the perfect rice, he turned to the unsung heroine of this tale – his wife, Fumiko Minami.

After years of testing the cookers in the harshest of conditions, Yoshitada and his family stumbled upon an invention that would revolutionise rice-cooking forever.

Natasha Fernandes speaks to Aiji Minami, the youngest son of Yoshitada and Fumiko.

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(Photo: Automatic electric rice cooker manual. Credit: Toshiba)