Going Like Hottokēki

Gather round the takoyaki grill... J's find at the annual rummage sale held by a Japanese ex-pats' club.

This says takoyaki, followed by small print: hottokēki (hot cake), then Chinese characters I read as "maker." Characters should be grill + both (or, together) + use. So, a takoyaki maker for "dual use"? For either grilling or baking? Or to make some alternative octopus-shaped dumplings?

In any case, here's the business end, for pouring in batter.

Other side...

"APOLLO"

Just to be sure there's no mistaking the product, the head of the family kicks things off. Watch the expert, as he digs happily into a steaming batch of grilled octopus dumplings!