TOKYO — A method of preparing meals without the use of kitchen equipment—referred to as "canceled cooking"—is becoming popular, particularly with young individuals in Japan, according to a study conducted by food company Kewpie Corp. on married women.
With an increase in two-earner families, the research indicates that mealtime is becoming more streamlined due to quicker cooking methods, and individuals are generally seeing this shift as beneficial.
Not taking shortcuts, but making an optimistic change
The research took place in October 2025 with participation from 1,500 married women between the ages of 20 and 74, and it was published on June 10. "Canceled cooking" describes methods used to keep preparing meals without excessive effort in a hectic routine, involving intentionally skipping — or "cancelling" — specific cooking tasks or equipment.
When asked about the kitchen utensils they used in the past month, 89.3% of participants reported using a "knife." Among different age groups, the largest percentage came from individuals aged 62 and above, with 94.3% reporting knife use, whereas the smallest proportion was seen among those under 30, at 68.3%.
The quantity of kitchen utensils employed varied as well. On average, people used 10.5 items, yet this number was minimal for individuals under 30, standing at 6.2. Within this younger demographic, 14.6% were identified as engaging in "knife-free cooking," where knives aren’t utilized at all. According to Kewpie, they view this not merely as an easy way out, but rather as a beneficial change to keep enjoying culinary activities.
Values are changing
The concept of "homemade" seems to be evolving as well.
In comparison to surveys conducted in 2013 and 2021, an increasing number of individuals now classify certain dishes as "home-cooked," where a pre-prepared item undergoes just one additional step. For instance, purchasing raw burger patties, cooking them in a skillet, and presenting them on a dish, or preparing pork broth by mixing miso into canned or frozen pork stock components. Meanwhile, the feeling of remorse associated with considering these meals as taking shortcuts seems to be decreasing.
Although the concept that homemade meals reflect love still exists, it is growing more adaptable among younger generations. Kewpie mentioned that it thinks the time when striving for flawless domestic tasks was the norm has shifted toward priorities focusing on achieving a harmony between productivity and contentment.
Kewpie has shared "knife-cancel recipes" on their website, making it simple to cook dishes like chicken nuggets and gyoza.
(Original Japanese version by Yuko Shimada, Tokyo Business News Division)