TOKYO, May 27 — Japan’s electric rice cooker exports have kept growing in popularity in neighboring countries, data from the finance ministry has shown.
Japan’s electric rice cooker exports reached a record high of 10.2 billion yen in 2017, the highest since they were recorded in 1988.
China emerged as the top export destination as it accounted for about 40 percent of Japan’s total rice cooker exports. The shipments to China jumped 11 percent to 3.7 billion yen in 2017.
This was followed by Taiwan at 2.1 billion yen. The other key destinations include the Chinese communities in neighboring countries.
Zojirushi, Japan’s major manufacture of rice steamer, said the home appliance now allows cooking fluffy and sweet tasting rice with the press of a button. Consumers are willing to pay up to 70,000 yen, the company said.
Panasonic, another Japanese maker, also pointed out that the ongoing inbound tourism boom have helped growing demand for the made-in-Japan appliance as foreign tourists returned home with Japanese rice cookers.