{
  "id": 2601821,
  "title": "Japan’s double-decker portable rice cooker/bento maker is better than ever with new version",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/japans-double-decker-portable-rice-cooker-bento-maker-is-better-than",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-22T16:00:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SoraNews24",
    "slug": "soranews24",
    "url": "https://soranews24.com/2026/08/23/japans-double-decker-portable-rice-cooker-bento-maker-is-better-than-ever-with-new-version/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Thanko, a Japanese gadget manufacturer, has once again demonstrated its creative prowess with a new version of its One-Person Rice Cooker Series. These compact kitchen appliances allow users to cook a single serving of rice, making them perfect for office use or other situations where freshly steamed rice is needed. The devices feature a two-tier design, with the bottom section for cooking rice and the upper section for cooking, reheating, or thawing side dishes, such as vegetables, dumplings, or curry.\n\nRecently, Thanko has seen a surge in demand for these one-person rice cookers, attributed to rising restaurant prices. To meet this increased demand, the company has made several enhancements to the latest model. The cooking process has become even faster, taking just 14 minutes to complete. Additionally, the new version includes a timer function, allowing users to schedule the cooking process to begin one, two, or three hours after setting the timer. This feature is particularly useful for preparing meals with brown rice, which requires a longer soaking time than white rice.\n\nThe one-person rice cooker is not only convenient for office use but also suitable for car camping, as it can operate using vehicle power outlets with a minimum voltage of 300 watts. Despite these improvements, the rice cooker maintains its compact size and easy-to-clean design, with dishwasher-safe components at the bottom.",
  "summary": "Now there’s even more to be thankful to Thanko for. Japanese gadget maker Thanko has repeatedly shown its knack for innovations to be grateful for, but the company’s best idea of all is arguably its One-Person Rice Cooker Series. These compact kitchen appliances let you cook enough rice for a single serving, and their easy […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Thanko releases new version of One-Person Rice Cooker Series",
    "Cooking time reduced to 14 minutes with enhanced technology",
    "Timer function allows scheduling for meals requiring longer prep"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}