The Japanese ‘weirdo’ who built a cool toaster and changed the way we heat bread

IN A country that rewards conformity and wrote the rule book, How to Not be a Maverick, Japanese product designer Gen Terao sticks out like mayonnaise in a sushi restaurant.

But bucking convention has led him to where he is today – the founder-chief executive of Balmuda Design, a niche maker of high-end home appliances with a cult following among design-conscious and bread-loving homeowners around the world. 

His company is best known for its Balmuda toaster – literally the Rolls-Royce of toasters that costs hundreds of dollars (compared to the basic S$50 two-slice pop-up). The machine is coveted for the way it uses steam technology to create the perfect slice of toast.