Bamboo Oni Oroshi Daikon Grater

I am an Oni Oroshi Daikon Grater. My teeth look fierce, but all I really do is coax daikon and carrots into fluffy surrender.

Curator's Notes 

Almost everyone who walks into the store asks what this is for. It has such an interesting, traditional-looking appearance that it immediately draws curiosity, yet it’s incredibly specific in its purpose.

“Oni oroshi” means ogre daikon grater! "Ogre" due to the monster like jagged teeth. Traditionally it’s used to create the coarse fluffy mound of grated daikon often served alongside dishes in Japanese cuisine. The wide teeth break the vegetable down into pulp that’s quite different from a typical fine metal grater that would produce more of a paste type consistency.

It also works beautifully with other large root vegetables like carrots or potatoes when you want that same pulpy grate. I tend to reach for the small size because it feels more versatile and handles a range of vegetables easily like carrots with not a whole lot of surface, but the large feels perfectly scaled for what it was truly designed for - a full daikon.

Bamboo Oni Oroshi Daikon Grater was curated by Angélique Chmielewski

Designer/Maker 

Maker: Kohchosai Kosuga

Specifications

Dimensions:

Small: 1.0" (w) x 2.8" (l) x 7.0" (h) or 25mm (w) x 71mm (l) x 178mm (h)

Large: 2.5" (w) x 3.5 (l) x 11.5" (h) or 64mm (w) x 89mm (l) x 292mm (h)

Weight: 

Small: 2.0 oz or 57 g

Large: Approximately 5 oz 142 g

Materials: Bamboo

Details

• Handmade in Kyoto, Japan
  
• Crafted from Madake and Mousouchiku bamboo sourced from Hyogo, Nara, and Kyoto
  
• Designed for grating daikon, as well as other root vegetables and fruits such as carrots, apples, and more
  
• Ideal for preparing daikon oroshi to serve alongside fish, tempura, udon, and soba
  
• Bamboo material offers a balance of strength, lightness, and durability
  
• Harvested during the winter months, then steamed to remove natural oils and sun-dried over an extended period  
  
• Formed from natural bamboo and will display unique variations in grain, color, and texture
  
• To clean, use a mild dish detergent and dry with a soft cloth