Quick answer: choose the Kyocera CD-18(N) if you want a broad, non-slip ceramic dish that holds grated food and liquid. Choose the TSUBOE DO-070 for small condiment portions and minimal storage. Both are made in Japan and had verified Amazon-fulfilled offers when checked.
Best for larger portions
A 6.3-inch ceramic dish with a silicone non-slip ring and scraping brush.
Best for small condiments
A compact 100 × 60 mm tin-lined copper plate made in Tsubame, Niigata.
Kyocera vs TSUBOE at a glance
| Detail | Kyocera Ceramic Grater | TSUBOE Copper Mini Grater |
|---|---|---|
| Exact model | CD-18(N) | DO-070 |
| Best use | Ginger, garlic and medium portions of daikon | Small portions of ginger, garlic and wasabi |
| Published size | 160 mm diameter × 30 mm; Amazon lists 6.3 × 6.3 × 1.18 in | 100 × 60 mm overall; about 1.5 mm thick |
| Published weight | 350 g | About 59 g; Amazon lists 2.4 oz |
| Materials | Ceramic body, silicone-rubber base, polypropylene brush | Tin-lined copper |
| Production | Made in Japan | Made in Tsubame, Niigata, Japan |
| Care | Hand-wash; Kyocera says not to use a dishwasher | Hand-wash and dry; dishwasher safety was not verified |
| Amazon snapshot | ASIN B0002B15DS; WIREDREAM JAPAN; Amazon fulfilled | ASIN B01EJIODDS; Japanique Living; Amazon fulfilled |
Offers were checked on August 10, 2026 at approximately 12:10 p.m. JST. Both exact pages displayed Buy Now, an identified seller and Amazon fulfillment. Recheck the offer box because seller, shipper, price, delivery total and return eligibility can change without the ASIN changing.
Where these fit in a Japanese kitchen
Japanese oroshiki and oroshigane are built around reducing ingredients to moist pulp rather than producing only dry shreds. Ginger and garlic go into sauces and dressings; daikon accompanies grilled fish and noodles; wasabi is grated in small amounts. Kyocera's dish contains a larger batch, while TSUBOE's tiny plate is sized for condiments.
In Japan, ceramic graters appear in kitchenware departments and home-goods stores, while copper graters are a more specialized metalware purchase. TSUBOE is a grater specialist from Tsubame, a Niigata city known for metalworking. That context explains the material and format; it does not mean every Japanese cook needs copper.
Kyocera CD-18(N): best for a stable bowl and larger batch
Best for larger portions
Kyocera Ceramic Grater, CD-18(N)
A made-in-Japan ceramic grating dish with an integrated collection area, non-slip base and scraping brush.
Kyocera publishes a 160 mm diameter, 30 mm height and 350 g weight. The ceramic body and raised conical teeth do not rust, while the silicone ring helps keep the plate in place on a dry counter. The shallow surrounding dish catches grated food, and the included polypropylene brush moves pulp away from the teeth.
The size is both advantage and compromise. It suits a meaningful portion of grated daikon or several aromatics, but a 6.3-inch round plate occupies more cabinet space. Kyocera warns against stacking other dishes on the teeth, using it on frozen food or bones, and putting it in a dishwasher where impacts could chip the ceramic.
Verified Amazon US offer
The exact CD-18(N) page, ASIN B0002B15DS, displayed Buy Now. The selected offer was sold by WIREDREAM JAPAN and shipped from Amazon. The manufacturer specification identifies this model as made in Japan.
TSUBOE DO-070: best for small condiment portions
Best compact choice
TSUBOE Copper Mini Grater, DO-070
A small, made-in-Tsubame tin-lined copper grater for ginger, garlic, wasabi and other condiments.
The DO-070 is approximately 100 × 60 mm and 1.5 mm thick, with a published weight around 59 g. Its copper base is tin-lined. The small surface is practical when a recipe needs a spoonful rather than a bowlful, and it slips into a drawer more easily than the Kyocera.
This is not the better tool for a large daikon. Its short plate asks for small strokes and provides no surrounding bowl for liquid. Hand-wash it, remove food from the teeth carefully and dry it rather than leaving it wet. The checked sources did not give the DO-070 a dishwasher-safe claim, so this guide does not make one.
Verified Amazon US offer
The exact DO-070 page, ASIN B01EJIODDS, displayed Buy Now. The selected offer was sold by Japanique Living and shipped from Amazon. Product documentation identifies it as made in Tsubame, Niigata, Japan.
How these differ from a typical U.S. rasp grater
A Microplane-style rasp usually has a long handle and directional holes suited to zest, hard cheese and long strokes. These Japanese tools expose a field of raised teeth and make the most sense when you want moist pulp. Kyocera adds a receiving dish; TSUBOE keeps the traditional flat metal format compact.
If your recurring job is lemon zest or Parmesan, keep the rasp. If it is ginger paste for marinades, grated garlic, wasabi or daikon, either Japanese format may match the intended texture and workflow more closely.
Buyer feedback patterns
Buyer feedback suggests the Kyocera's recurring strengths are stability, quick reduction of ginger and garlic, and easy rinsing. Repeated cautions concern its exposed sharp teeth and the storage space required by the round plate. Those themes fit the published shape and care warnings.
The TSUBOE listing had a much smaller review base at verification time. Across accessible feedback, buyers most often valued its compact size and fine result for small aromatics; the recurring limitation is scale. This guide does not turn that smaller sample into a durability claim.
Which one should you buy?
Choose Kyocera for more than a condiment
The CD-18(N) is the easier recommendation for households that grate daikon, several cloves of garlic or a larger knob of ginger. Its weight, non-slip ring and receiving dish make the work surface more self-contained.
Choose TSUBOE for small portions and small drawers
The DO-070 makes sense for one-person cooking, tabletop condiments and recipes that call for only a teaspoon or tablespoon of fresh aromatic pulp. It is also the clearer choice if you specifically want traditional Japanese copper construction.
Do not buy either just for the label
A sharp grater already in your drawer may be enough. Pay for a second format only if moist pulp, batch size or cleanup is a recurring problem.
Amazon US buying cautions
Confirm the exact model before checkout: CD-18(N) for the 6.3-inch Kyocera and DO-070 for the small TSUBOE. Nearby sizes and newer series can share similar titles. Both verified offers were fulfilled by Amazon, but the third-party sellers were different and can change.
Shipping-inclusive price and return eligibility depend on the selected offer and delivery address, so they are not published as fixed values. If seller, shipper or model differs from the verification snapshot, review the live terms before purchasing.
When to skip each one
- Skip Kyocera if cabinet space is tight or your kitchen habits make ceramic chipping likely.
- Skip TSUBOE if you regularly grate a large amount of daikon or want a built-in collection dish.
- Skip both if you mainly zest citrus or grate hard cheese and already like a long rasp.
- Skip any offer that no longer matches the exact ASIN, model, seller and fulfillment details you expect.
Specification sources
Kyocera's dimensions, materials, included brush, production country and care limits were checked against the Kyocera CD-18(N) specification and its grater care FAQ. TSUBOE's maker history was checked against the TSUBOE manufacturer site; exact DO-070 dimensions, tin-lined copper material and production origin were cross-checked with a Japanese kitchenware specialist. These are research citations, not purchase buttons.
Frequently asked questions
Which Japanese ginger grater should I buy?
Choose the Kyocera CD-18(N) when you want a stable 6.3-inch bowl for ginger, garlic or larger portions of daikon. Choose the TSUBOE DO-070 when you grate small condiment portions and want a compact tin-lined copper tool.
Are both graters made in Japan?
Yes. Kyocera lists Japan as the production country for the CD-18(N), and the TSUBOE DO-070 specification identifies Tsubame, Niigata, Japan as its origin.
Can I put these Japanese graters in the dishwasher?
Do not put the Kyocera CD-18(N) in a dishwasher; Kyocera warns that contact with other dishes can chip its ceramic teeth. The sources checked for the TSUBOE DO-070 do not provide a dishwasher-safe claim, so hand-wash and dry it rather than assuming machine washing is safe.
Do these replace a Microplane-style grater?
Not for every job. These Japanese grating surfaces are strongest when you want moist ginger, garlic, wasabi or daikon pulp. Keep a rasp grater if you primarily need dry citrus zest, hard-cheese shavings or long directional strokes.