Details of the grill here
Kamaasa's Charcoal Grill with Kosaka Kanamitsu's stainless steel mesh
The MakerKosaka Kanamitsu
- Founded in 1966 by the current president, Minoru Kosaka's father. In 1980, they introduced two air-operated spot welding machines and began wholesaling products in 1983 to the Osaka, Sennichimae Tool Street. In 1996, their eldest son, Minoru, inherited the business and expanded it. Currently, Minoru and his wife, Chinami, run the factory together. Kosaka Kanamitsu Official Website
TOPICS 01It all started with ginkgo roasting. The opportunity came from a cold call!
The grilling nets and shichirin used at Kamaasa are made of durable, rust-resistant stainless steel, ensuring a long lifespan. The Kosaka couple is responsible for these items. Their base is in the Kame area of Hirano Ward, where many small factories operate. In a narrow space with two spot welding machines, work progresses quietly.
Various molds hang from above. They keep extra molds and finished products to avoid trouble when they need to recreate them, taking photos for reference.
Kamaasa and Kosaka Kanamitsu began their relationship around 2012. The first request was for ginkgo roasting nets.<br>Minoru: At that time, we only knew Osaka. I thought it would be great if more people knew about us, so I packed a lot of tools into my bag and went to Kappabashi. At the first store I entered, they said, "No one comes in without an appointment to talk to us." I thanked them and went around various shops, but most said, "We get ours from Niigata."<br>Wada: I see. How many shops did you visit?<br>Minoru: About 20. But I really couldn't even get anyone to talk to me. Just when I was thinking of going home, I happened to walk into Kamaasa. The president's mother was there, and when I said, "We run a net shop in Osaka and make this kind of thing," she listened very kindly. Then she showed me a ginkgo roasting net that they had bought in Kyoto, saying, "Our president is looking for something like this right now."
Durable and easy-to-use ginkgo roasting nets. They won't budge even when the ginkgo bursts. (As of 2025, this is a made-to-order item)
Wada: So you showed it to them on the spot! I didn't know that.<br>Minoru: I could tell what it was just by looking at it, so as soon as I got back to Osaka, I tried making it our way and sent it as a thank you for listening to us. Then I got a call from the president right away. That's how our relationship started and continues to this day.<br>Wada: I remember when Kumazawa brought the ginkgo roasting net that you sent to me. He said, "Look at this. It's completely different from the one I bought the other day; this one is better, right?" I said, "Yes, let's do it!" And that's how it began.
TOPICS 02Improving safety, durability, and aesthetics. The meticulous details behind the improvements.
New ginkgo roasting net
Wada: Yes, one of the items that we adopted after seeing it from Kosaka was the ginkgo roasting net. The ones we had been using before would always get caught on sponges when washing. Well, ginkgo roasting nets are generally around 300 to 400 yen, so it can't be helped.<br>Minoru: That's right. Ours was around 1200 yen even back then. So, we didn't produce many ginkgo roasting nets originally. However, after being introduced by Kamaasa, they started being used in hotel kitchens because they are safer for hands.<br>Wada: Indeed, you can use Minoru's ginkgo roasting net with confidence. That's when we started asking for grilling nets. With grilling nets, there are places where they aren't properly attached to the frame, and people think, "It's usable, so why worry about that?" But when we asked Minoru, it was completely different. It's so beautifully made that you can't even tell where it's welded unless you look closely. Of course, the price is a bit higher, but Kumazawa said, "Let's go with this one." With Minoru, you can be sure that a good product will come out right away. So, we decided to ask him for everything. It was just around the time we were increasing our shichirin and grilling platforms, so we decided to make nets accordingly. Now, we have quite a few standard items, right?
The grilling nets use a durable crimped woven wire mesh. They are carefully finished down to the details, ensuring that the mesh does not fray and is safe.
The "steamer tray mesh" is often purchased together with the steamer. This wire mesh is plain woven.
Wada: Also, the most popular item right now is the "steamer tray mesh" used with Chinese steamers.<br>Minoru: Ah! I didn't think that would sell so much at first (laughs).<br>Wada: It's extremely well-received. I've heard that about 70% of people who buy steamers also buy that mesh together.
TOPICS 03Inheriting the factory established by my father at 26, developing it as a couple.
Kosaka Kanamitsu was born in 1966 (Showa 41). It was a company started by Mr. Kosaka's father alone.
"It's faster to meet in person and discuss, so as long as I can, I'll come to Osaka! I want to meet Mr. Kosaka," says Wada. Mr. Kosaka chuckles in response.
Minoru: Originally, my father worked in Minami, Osaka, in this business, and then he established this place independently. I graduated from high school and got a job at another company, but my father quickly told me, "It's busy, so come back." Since I had been helping with my father's work all along, I was able to start working right away.<br>Wada: Oh, I see. When did you start helping out?<br>Minoru: Since elementary school. When my brother and I came home from school, there was always a letter saying, "Buy a snack and come to the factory right away," along with a 100 yen coin. So, I helped out by cutting nets and wires. I think I started welding around middle school. So even after entering a technical high school, I could weld from the beginning.<br>Wada: I see, that's impressive. So, you started with your father.
Stainless steel rods lined up in the factory. "We often source materials from a company in Higashi-Osaka. There are many factories just for metal processing," says Minoru.
Wada: I see. By the way, what has been the most challenging thing you've made so far?<br>Minoru: Hmm... In terms of difficulty, it would be the large pot basket (azuki ni-kago) that fits perfectly in a giant pot used by a Japanese sweets shop for cooking azuki beans. To ensure the beans cook evenly, a cylindrical piece made of the same mesh is attached in the center, but that was tough (laughs). The size is too large, and since they don't sell many, there was no mold, so I had to make a mold out of cardboard first and then shape it.
TOPICS 04Trust in high quality born from overwhelmingly careful work.
The grilling nets are made with a frame of stainless steel round rods, and crimped woven wire mesh (Note: a type of mesh made by weaving thick metal wires in a wave pattern. It is stronger than regular plain woven mesh) is welded using argon welding (Note: a type of arc welding using tungsten electrodes, suitable for precision welding). The frame and mesh edges are welded carefully and rhythmically, resulting in a neat and beautiful finish. The spot welding of the stainless steel frame is done by Chinami.
The spot welding of the frame is Chinami's job.
The edges of the wire mesh are fixed with argon welding at each point.
Wada: The welding is really beautiful, but what's amazing is that the outermost mesh is recessed so that it doesn't shift when placed on the grill. I thought this was done with a machine that could press it all at once, but in reality, Minoru was hitting each one individually. I was surprised.<br>Minoru: Well, I think there are amazing press machines that can do this, but we use this primitive method, so 50 pieces a day is the limit. My arms get sore. But when grilling meat, if the mesh shifts, it feels unpleasant. I don't want to make something I wouldn't buy myself.
After welding, the inner edge of the grilling net is hammered to create recesses so that the mesh doesn't wobble when placed on the grill.
Wada: There are no grilling nets of this quality made in Japan. Basically, many people find washing nets troublesome, so there are many disposable quality nets available now. But with this net, you can just burn off any serious dirt. It's sturdy enough to last a long time.
Minoru: That's right. You can burn it off and it's totally fine.<br>Wada: It's just great to be able to trust Minoru. Even when we ask for something new, the result is always above what we imagined, like 120 points.
Minoru: When I bring a confident product, they say, "Just put that there." Everyone at Kamaasa praises me, so it's a bit embarrassing but also makes me happy.
With the Kosaka couple. The logo of Kosaka Kanamitsu on the chest pocket of their matching denim aprons was put there by their child.
PRODUCTS Kosaka Kanamitsu's products
Written and edited by Yamashita Shiyo, photographed by Kamaasa.
