【Reading】おろしがね

【English Name】Grater

An oroshigane (grater) is a cooking implement designed to finely grind down materials such as vegetables and spices. Its basic structure is a metal plate—tin-coated copper, aluminum, or stainless steel—on which countless tiny teeth are raised, and products with teeth of differing coarseness on each face are also widespread, allowing use suited to the purpose. The variety of materials is rich as well, with many non-metal options such as plastic, ceramic, earthenware, and glass.

In the world of sushi, it is an implement that works daily as an essential tool for preparing condiments of wasabi and ginger. In particular, the wasabi-specific "samegawa-oroshi" (sharkskin grater) wins high support from chefs because its extremely fine, densely packed projections achieve a smooth finish. Interestingly, although it bears the name "sharkskin," modern products adopt skin taken from rays as the material.

There is also a bamboo implement called the "oni-oroshi," prized for being able to coarsely grate daikon with triangular teeth about 1 cm in size. It is also essential when preparing the northern Kanto local dish "shimotsukare." Grated daikon is widely enjoyed as a condiment served with sushi, and the grater can be said to be a cooking implement that quietly underpins the foundation of sushi culture.