On October 7, 2026, Tiger Corporation’s “Tiger Donabe Gohan Meiten (Donabe Rice Masterpiece Restaurants)” project launched. Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the donabe rice cooker’s birth, this project allows customers to enjoy rice cooked in a donabe rice cooker alongside restaurant dishes at 25 establishments across 7 cities nationwide.
Mister Gadget covered the opening ceremony held at “Narutake” in Mejiro. Donabe rice cookers and inner pots were displayed at the venue, and we were served samples of rice and side dishes. This time, we will introduce the tasting experience, the certificate presentation ceremony for “Donabe Gohan Day,” and the JRT-A100 model being introduced to participating restaurants.
What you’ll learn in this article!
Author of this article: "Mr. Gadget"
- Studied under Masatoshi Ono, a million-selling singer who has performed at Kohaku Uta Gassen
- Experience supervising for Ameba Choice and the web media Picky's
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| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Event Name | “Tiger Donabe Gohan Meiten” Opening Ceremony |
| Organizer | Tiger Corporation |
| Date & Time | October 7, 2026 (Wednesday) 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM |
| Venue | Narutake (3-17-39 Shimo-Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) |
| Official Information | Donabe Gohan Meiten Special Page |
“Tiger Donabe Gohan Meiten” Opens on October 7
Experience Donabe Rice at 25 Restaurants in 7 Cities Nationwide
The “Tiger Donabe Gohan Meiten” is a project launched in collaboration between Tiger Corporation and Tabelog. Participating restaurants will introduce the Donabe Pressure IH Jar Rice Cooker “Donabe Go-Awabidaki JRT-A100” and serve rice cooked with it alongside their restaurant dishes.
The project targets a total of 25 restaurants across 7 cities: Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. “Narutake,” where this opening ceremony was held, is also one of the participating restaurants. The appeal of this project is being able to enjoy donabe rice with the restaurant’s cuisine. Details of participating restaurants and the project can be found on the special page.
Ms. GadgetSo you can enjoy donabe rice with the restaurant’s dishes, right?
Mr. GadgetYes. It’s also convenient that you can find restaurants you want to visit from the list of participating establishments.
Initiative to Enjoy the 20th Anniversary at the Dining Table
Tiger Corporation launched a rice cooker with a donabe (earthen pot) as its inner pot in 2006. 2026 marks its 20th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, three experiences have been prepared: “Donabe Gohan Meiten” at restaurants, pop-up events held in 7 cities nationwide, and cooking experiences with ABC Cooking Studio.
In addition to enjoying it with meals at restaurants, you can also savor donabe rice at events and cooking classes. ABC Cooking Studio plans to offer paid 1-day lessons that non-members can also participate in. Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis, and account registration on the reservation site is required.
Ms. GadgetSo there are opportunities to participate beyond just the master restaurants.
Mr. GadgetYes, there are also pop-up events and cooking experiences. You can choose the experience that suits you best by checking the venue and application requirements.
Information on these three initiatives is summarized in Tiger Corporation’s official announcement.
We Sampled Rice and Side Dishes at Narutake in Mejiro
Donabe Rice with Fish Side Dishes and Small Bowls
For the tasting, we were served a meal consisting of donabe rice, a fish side dish, a small bowl, and soup. It was an experience where rice cooked in a rice cooker could be enjoyed alongside the restaurant’s cuisine.
During the talk session at the venue, the restaurant’s philosophy of valuing white rice in daily meals and the aim of combining dishes with donabe rice were also introduced.
Ms. GadgetThe rice is the star, but the side dishes on display also catch my eye.
Mr. GadgetBoth the fish side dish and the small bowl were delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire meal with the rice.
Glossy Rice and the Presence of Each Grain
Approaching the rice in the bowl, the glossy white grains catch the eye. Even in the photo, the outline of each individual grain was clearly visible.
Ms. GadgetThis gloss is lovely. What was your impression when you ate it?
Mr. GadgetIt had a proper grainy texture and was delicious. It was a meal where you could enjoy the presence of the rice itself.
This “Meiten” project is an initiative that allows you to savor restaurant dishes combined with donabe rice.
Ms. GadgetIt’s great that you can not only read about the rice cooker but also try it out at a restaurant.
Mr. GadgetI think the best part of this project is being able to enjoy it with the dishes. It’s an experience suited for those who want to enjoy both rice and side dishes.
Certificate Presentation Ceremony for “Donabe Gohan Day” on October 7
At the opening ceremony, a certificate presentation ceremony was also held to register October 7 as “Donabe Gohan Day.” It is an anniversary recognized by the Japan Anniversary Association, and the name “Donabe Gohan Day” and the date October 7 were displayed on the screen at the venue.
An anniversary to enjoy donabe rice has also been added to the launch of the 20th-anniversary project for donabe rice cookers.
Ms. GadgetSo October 7 has become Donabe Gohan Day.
Mr. GadgetYes. Along with the ‘Meiten’ project, it seems like a great opportunity to enjoy donabe rice.
The anniversary certification and project launch were also introduced in the official announcement on the day of the event.
The “Donabe Go-Awabidaki JRT-A100” Used at Master Restaurants
Rice Cooker and Inner Pot Displayed at the Venue
At the venue, the donabe rice cooker and its removed inner pot were on display. The sample dishes were also arranged next to them, creating an exhibition where one could see the rice cooker and the cooked rice together.
The model being introduced to participating restaurants in this project is Tiger Corporation’s top-of-the-line model, the “Donabe Go-Awabidaki JRT-A100.” This model commemorates the 20th anniversary of donabe rice cookers and was released on June 21, 2026.
20th Anniversary Model with Evolved Donabe Shape and Heat Control
The JRT-A100 features an evolved donabe shape and heat control. The “Umami Convection Shape” adopted for the inner pot is designed to promote convection through its internal ripple pattern. It also includes a “Sensor Spot” to detect temperature and “Simmering IH” to enhance cooking.
It also supports brand-specific cooking, allowing you to choose the cooking method according to the rice. In addition to 79 brands, Koshihikari can be selected by 6 different production regions. The ability to choose the cooking method according to the rice you usually eat is also a key feature.
Ms. GadgetSo, it’s not just using a donabe, but there are also innovations in its shape and temperature control.
Mr. GadgetYes. There are innovations in the donabe’s shape and temperature control during cooking. At the venue, we also saw the removed inner pot.
Features and specifications are detailed on the official product page for the JRT-A100.
The Charm of Enjoying Dishes and Rice Together, as Felt at the Opening Ceremony
At the opening ceremony, in addition to the rice cooker display and the anniversary certificate presentation ceremony, we also enjoyed tasting rice and side dishes. I feel that the appeal of this project is being able to savor donabe rice together with the restaurant’s dishes.
At “Tiger Donabe Gohan Meiten,” you can enjoy rice cooked in a rice cooker alongside restaurant cuisine. Searching for restaurants you want to visit based on the rice might become one way to enjoy dining out.
Ms. GadgetIt sounds like there’s also joy in choosing a restaurant based on the rice.
Mr. GadgetIndeed. I’d like to look for restaurants among the participating establishments where I can enjoy both the dishes and the rice together.
Check Out the Master Restaurants Where You Can Savor Donabe Rice
The “Tiger Donabe Gohan Meiten” project launched on October 7, 2026, at 25 restaurants across 7 cities nationwide. It will be smoother to visit after checking the special page and each restaurant’s information for participating stores and rice serving conditions.
Here is a list of participating restaurants published in the official announcement. You can open the image to enlarge and check the restaurant names and locations. Please also check the special page and each restaurant’s information for the latest business hours and rice serving conditions.
If you plan to visit “Narutake,” the venue for this event, you can check its location on Tabelog’s store map.
Here are three things to check when visiting:
- Find participating restaurants on the special page
- Check each restaurant’s rice serving conditions and menu
- Check business hours, regular holidays, and reservation requirements
Additionally, a present campaign will be held for those who dine at participating restaurants and complete a survey. The application period is from October 7, 2026, to March 31, 2027. This period is for campaign applications. Eligible uses and application methods can be found in the campaign information on the special page.
Ms. GadgetSo, first I should find a nearby participating restaurant and check its information, right?
Mr. GadgetYes. When you go out to eat, please take a look at the list of participating restaurants.
Find your favorite restaurant from the participating establishments nationwide and enjoy donabe rice with their dishes. Here is the special page for “Tiger Donabe Gohan Meiten.”
Thank you for reading until the end!
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This article was originally written in Japanese and has been translated.
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