Innovator Gen TeraoAge 42Founder and president of Tokyo-area appliance maker Balmuda, which has 50 employees
Form and functionThe Balmuda toaster oven uses steam and carefully calibrated heat cycles to turn store-bought bread into something that smells, feels, and tastes like it’s just popped out of a baker’s oven.
OriginIn 2014, Balmuda began work on a toaster after a rainy-day barbecue taught Terao that humidity could help keep toasted bread moist.
BackgroundTerao, a high school dropout who spent a decade fronting Japanese rock band the Beach Fighters, started Balmuda in 2003, building aluminum laptop stands.
SteamWith an included cup, users pour 5 cubic centimeters of water in an opening at the top of the 14-by-13-by-8-inch toaster. A tiny amount of steam traps moisture in bread as it’s gradually warmed, before the toaster finishes it off with a dose of high heat.
PriceThe toaster costs 24,000 yen ($230) and is available in Japan in stores and online.
SalesSince the toaster’s June 2015 debut, Balmuda has sold about 10,000 per month. There’s a three-month wait.
Cycles Unlike conventional ovens, Balmuda’s toaster uses thermostats to maintain precise, scorch-free warming cycles, which users can customize based on the type of bread.
Next Steps“Consumers are embracing gadgets that do one thing well,” says Hiromi Yamaguchi, an analyst at researcher Euromonitor International. Mark Oda, an app marketer in Tokyo who was among Balmuda’s first buyers, says he’ll never be able to go back to cheaper toasters. Balmuda recently expanded sales of the toaster oven to South Korea but says it’s not planning to move into the U.S. or Europe anytime soon. Some are available through resellers on Amazon.com and elsewhere.
To contact the author of this story: Reed Stevenson in Tokyo at rstevenson15@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jeff Muskus at jmuskus@bloomberg.net.
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