Tetsubin / Iron Kettles

Nambu Ironware -Suzuki Morihisa Workshop- Iron Kettle

The Suzuki family has maintained a legacy as a well-established producer of high-quality Nambu ironware. In 1974 (Showa 49), the 13th generation, Morihisa Suzuki, received national designation as an Intangible Cultural Property through record preservation. At present, the Suzuki Morihisa Workshop operates as a limited company with the 15th generation, Morihisa Suzuki, serving as the head. They continue the tradition of crafting tea kettles, iron pots, and various other ironware using the unique traditional techniques of the Nambu region.

Nambu Ironware is a form of metalwork crafted in Morioka and Oshu-mizusawa in Iwate Prefecture. The Suzuki Morihisa Workshop, a longstanding Nambu Ironware workshop, boasts a history dating back approximately 400 years since 1625. At present, the Suzuki Morihisa Workshop is being continued by the 15th generation of Morihisa, Shiiko Kumagai. In 2024, Shigeo Suzuki is scheduled to take on the name of the 16th generation of Morihisa, faithfully preserving the tradition. Nambu Ironware is known for its special finishing that makes it resistant to rust, durable over time, and excellent in even heat distribution and heat retention. The unique weight and stability inherent in ironware, combined with its rough and distinctive texture, contribute to the charm of its simple yet beautiful aesthetics.

The iron kettle, considered representative of Nambu Ironware, features various patterns skillfully crafted by artisans. The pockmarked design of the Arare (Hailstone) pattern, with its textured surface, is employed in Nambu ironware with the aim of increasing the surface area of the iron kettle.