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Nambu ironware is said to have originated in the mid-17th century when the Nambu samurai family, who ruled the northern part of Iwate Prefecture at that time, invited foundry workers from Kyoto and other places to make Buddhist altars or tea kettles. Its history spans 400 years.
We, named Oitomi, were founded in 1848 as a group of artisans specializing in the production of Nambu ironware, and for 174 years we have passed on our skills and traditions to the present day.
Nambu iron kettle, a typical example of Nambu ironware products, was originally a tea kettle used for tea ceremonies. This was created by improving a large tea kettle by making it smaller and adding a spout and handle so that it could be used to pour hot water with one hand. The traditional design of iron kettle, even today, has much in common with a tea ceremony kettle made 400 years ago.
Our teapots come in two types: the iron kettke-cum-teapot (2-way) type, which can be used as a teapot by attaching a tea strainer to the kettle that can boil water over an open flame or induction heater, and the teapot-only type, which is made just for pouring tea on a tabletop.
In Japan, a tabletop clay pot called donabe has been used for a long time. The traditional pot is versatile enough to be used for baking, steaming, boiling, frying, and many other dishes. Our iron pot was inspired by the pot which has the lid less prone to boil over, and was designed to be light and enjoyable to cook for about two people.
Nambu ironware products are not limited to iron kettles. We also offer a variety of iron accessories such as trivet mats, art works, and record weight stabilizers.
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Read moreIn 1884, iron kettles were buried during a big fire in the city of Morioka. The kettles had changed and did not rust easily. They say that artisan...
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