The Original Konro grill from Kaginushi is made by hand in Suzu Province, Japan. Since 1932 the traditional Japanese Konro has been handmade from diatomaceous earth (diatomite) sourced from the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa.
Chefslocker introduced the Japanese Konro BBQ to the UK in 2017 and we remain the largest supplier in the UK of authentic Konro Grills with the biggest selection of sizes, direct from the diatomite mine in Suzu Province. After the earthquake in January 2024 many of the diatomite mines were devastated and with growing popularity, the original Japanese Konro became widely copied in China and the West.
What is a Konro Grill?
Back in the Edo period of Japan the word 'Konro' referred to a small box shaped unit that would be filled with wood or charcoal that would heat a traditional Japanese house in an affordable way.
Why is the Konro Grill so Special?
Years passed and the design of these original Konro Grills improved. They started to be used for the Japanese tradional Yakitori and Kushiyaki (skewered fish). It wasn't before long that Diatomaceous Earth (Diatomite) started to be used to make the Konro Grill, specifically for cooking.
What is Diatomaceous Earth (Diatomite)?
The Japanese Konro grill is made from Diatomaceous Earth. Also known as Diatomite, this incredible insulating material is a sedimentary rock composed of the skeletal remains of single-cell equatic algaes known as 'diatoms'. This unique form of silica has elaborate honeycomb structure, peppered with thousands of tiny holes ranging from a few microns to submicron diameters. It's pretty special stuff!
Why is Diatomaceous Earth used in the construction
of the Original Konro grill?
The honeycomb construction of Diatomite makes it an incredible insulator, commonly used in the production of kilns. Found only in relatively small deposits around the globe and difficult to mine it is only Kaginushi of Ishikawa that have pefected the mining and production of the original Konro Grill. Using traditional techniques the Diatomaceous Earth is painstakingly mined and shaped into solid blocks. Using a technique more widely used in woodwork the blocks are pieced together without the use of any filler to maximize it's insulating properties. Using hammer and chisel the interior of the Konro is angled so as to reflect the internal heat in on itself. In Chefslocker trials using our Binchotan Charcoal the interior can reach a staggering 1,000 degrees celsius, whilst the outside remains only warm to the touch.
Why you should Not Buy a Western 'Konro' Grill...
The market is now flooded with Konro style grills but these are invariably made from heat bricks, not dissimilar to those that can be bought from any builders merchant. They are mass produced on a production line here in the UK, Eastern Europe or China. The thermal insulating properties are minimal when compared with the Diatomite used in the Origanal Konro Grill. The attention to detail is poor and these grills are incredibly heavy.
One Particular grill that caught our attention back in 2023 was the Kasai grill ('Kasai' in Japanese simply meaning fire). These grills can now be found stocked with mainstream retailers such as John Lewis and Next as well as the catering wholesaler Nisbets. In reviews we have even seen these Kasai grill descriped as ' Japanese '.
There is a lot of confusion out there...
Any table top rectangular grill can be called a Konro Grill but to our knowledge only Kaginushi of Ishikawa in Suzu province Japan produce the original Konro Grill handmade entirely from Diatomaceous Earth.
The Cheflocker team made a number of observations about this Kasai 'Konro' made in the UK.
- The first impression is that the Kasai is incredibly heavy. A comparable size Original Konro Grill from Chefslocker is roughly a quarter of the weight.
- The metal finish surrounding the Kasai and used for the legs of the grill are sharp and poorly finished. The metal also adds significant weight to the unit and the legs conduct the interior heat that could damage the surface the grill is used on.
- The walls of the Kasai are thinner than the walls of the Chefslocker Kaginushi Konro and the interior is vertical, reducing heat retention in the Kasai.
- When compared to an equivalent size of Konro grill the inner chamber of the Kasai requires much more charcoal.
- Most importantantly for us, the Kasai ' Konro ' cannot reach the sort of temperature the Original Konro can. The material used means it takes much longer to light charcoal within the grill and worryingly the exterior gets extraordinarily hot!
In 2015 Chefslocker was founded by a Chef with integrity. The company has forged long lasting relationships with Japanese producers and distributors to provide traditional Japanese crafstmanship. 10 years later it seems appropriate to call out a misleading narrative and to clarify that we will only ever stock the Original Kaginushi Konro Grill and will always do our best to source the best performing Binchotan Charcoal at the best possible price for our customers.
For information regarding our Binchotan Charcoal subscription service please visit: www.binchotancharcoal.co.uk
