You have put a pot on the cooktop, pressed 電源, and nothing seems to heat. Many Japanese IH cooktops require you to select the specific heating zone and 加熱 control after switching on the main power. The exact sequence depends on the model. First identify the pot’s zone, then read the controls below; check the model’s manual if the panel does not respond.
Japanese IH cooktop words
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 電源 入／切 | dengen iri / kiri | Main power on / off |
| 加熱 入／切 | kanetsu iri / kiri | Start / stop heating a zone |
| 左IH／右IH | hidari ai-etchi / migi ai-etchi | Left / right induction zone |
| 火力 | karyoku | Heat or power level |
| 弱／中／強 | jaku / chū / kyō | Low / medium / high |
| 保温 | hoon | Keep warm |
| 湯沸かし | yu-wakashi | Boil water mode |
| 揚げ物 | agemono | Deep-frying mode |
| タイマー | taimā | Timer |
| ロック／解除 | rokku / kaijo | Lock / unlock |
| 高温注意 | kōon chūi | Hot surface warning |
| 鍋なし | nabe nashi | No usable pot detected |
The panel may use icons, a dial, touch controls, or different words. Some built-in units also have a グリル (grill) or another heater with separate controls. Do not assume its buttons operate the pot in front of you.
Start a simple pot of soup
- Check the pot. It must be suitable for your IH model. Look for IH対応 on cookware, then confirm its base material, shape, and size against the cooktop manual. A pot marked IH-compatible may still fall outside a specific model’s permitted dimensions.
- Center it on the right zone. Keep the glass plate clear of cloths, packaging, and other objects. Put ingredients or liquid in the pot before heating; do not heat an empty pot.
- Switch on and select heating. Use 電源, then select the matching left or right zone and 加熱 according to the panel instructions. Adjust 火力 gradually and watch the food. If there is no heat, do not repeatedly press random modes.
- Finish deliberately. Turn off that zone, then the main power if the model calls for it. Check the display and avoid touching the top plate while 高温注意 is lit or while it remains hot.
Panasonic’s IH safety guidance notes that usable cookware depends on its material, base size, and shape; it also warns that the top plate can be hot from the pot even without a flame. An Iris Ohyama model listing shows different pot-size requirements for ordinary heating and frying. Use the actual manual for your model’s limits.
If the cooktop beeps, flashes, or stops
Check whether ロック is active, the pot is compatible and correctly centered, and the main power is on. Panasonic’s troubleshooting guide lists locking, incompatible cookware, and power state among possible causes of no heat on its built-in units. A lock may stay set after the power is turned off on some models. Find the model number and its official instructions for the release sequence; the button hold time is not universal. If a fault code remains after the manual’s steps, contact the landlord or the manufacturer’s service desk rather than opening the appliance.
揚げ物 is not an ordinary high-heat setting. Deep frying requires the specific mode, suitable cookware, and the oil amount set by the model’s instructions. Panasonic warns that too little oil can smoke or ignite. Stay with the cooker while it is on and switch it off when leaving. Do not rely on an automatic shutoff as a cooking timer. If you use a pacemaker, consult your doctor about IH use as the manufacturer advises.
Useful phrases in a rental apartment
この鍋はIH対応ですか？ (Kono nabe wa ai-etchi taiō desu ka? — Is this pot suitable for IH?) ロックの解除方法を教えてください。 (Rokku no kaijo hōhō o oshiete kudasai. — Please tell me how to unlock it.) 型番はどこにありますか？ (Kataban wa doko ni arimasu ka? — Where is the model number?) A photo of the control panel and model label can help your property manager identify the manual.
For another Japanese kitchen appliance, see our rice cooker button guide or microwave button guide. The same rule applies: read the model’s own directions before relying on a translated label alone.
