{
  "id": 3156651,
  "title": "Turn octopus, spaghetti, and more of your favorite foods into crackers with Senbei Maker 2",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/turn-octopus-spaghetti-and-more-of-your-favorite-foods-into-crackers",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-25T01:00:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SoraNews24",
    "slug": "soranews24",
    "url": "https://soranews24.com/2026/08/25/turn-octopus-spaghetti-and-more-of-your-favorite-foods-into-crackers-with-senbei-maker-2/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Crackers have long been a beloved snack, appreciated for their dry texture, portability, and versatility in topping or being topped. However, the current market of commercially available crackers tends to revolve around cheese and salt options. Japan's leading gadget maker, Thanko, has introduced a solution that could revolutionize the cracker experience - the Senbei Maker 2.\n\nDerived from the Japanese word for cracker, \"senbei,\" this machine allows users to transform virtually any food into a satisfying cracker. Leveraging a patented method of heating and pressing, the Senbei Maker 2 can take any ingredient and turn it into a customizable cracker.\n\nDemonstrated in a video, the device successfully created crackers out of French fries, melon pan, spaghetti, and even whitebait. While some foods, like French fries, naturally meld together when crackerified, others may require a bit of assistance. For instance, whitebait needed a minimal batter coating to help them adhere during the pressing process. Additionally, cheese can contribute to a sturdy and flavorful cracker base.\n\nThe machine comes with a few guidelines to ensure optimal results. Difficult-to-squish ingredients, such as walnuts or jawbreakers, should either be pre-crushed or avoided altogether to prevent damaging the machine. Thanko even encourages experimenting with unusual foods, including an entire octopus.\n\nAt approximately 5,500 yen (US$35), the Senbei Maker 2 is available for purchase on various online platforms, including Thanko's official website. Its predecessor, Senbei Maker, remains somewhat unclear in terms of improvements, making this model akin to the \"Evil Dead 2\" of cracker makers. Regardless of whether it's a true sequel or a reboot, one thing is certain - the Senbei Maker 2 brings a wave of gooey fun to the table, awaiting customers to try their hand at cracker-making. So why wait? Pick one up and start crackerifying today!",
  "summary": "You haven’t truly eaten a food until you’ve made it into a cracker. Who doesn’t love a good cracker? They’re dry, portable, can be customized with a vast range of toppings, or be used as toppings themselves. But the current range of commercially available crackers could be better. It seems the cracker industry is largely […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Senbei Maker 2 converts any food into crackers using patented heating and pressing.",
    "Successfully created crackers from French fries, spaghetti, and whitebait in demo.",
    "Priced at 5,500 yen (US$35), available online from Thanko."
  ],
  "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."
}