Nanbu Cast Iron is an Iwate's traditional craft used for chagama(kettle for the tea ceremony), iron kettle, wind chime and it has 400years history.
History
Representative production areas of Nanbu ironware are Morioka city and Oushu city Mizusawa district.
Bountiful resources of iron sand and clay, and also blessed water-transportation made Iwate prefecture famous for making cast metal since old times. Early 17th century in Morioka city, South feudal lord invited a kamashi(caster) from Kyoto and let him make a tea ceremony kettle which was the beginning of the history. In 18th century, the tea ceremony kettle was improved to a smaller and an useful iron kettle. In the end of the Heian period in Oushu, Fujiwara invited an ironware craftsman from Oumi and let them make a Buddhist altar fittings and that was the beginning.
Both production area's feudal lord protected and trained eagerly, led to maintain the development and began to make daily necessities which was widely used.
Iron kettle is highly esteemed because it makes the water soft and tatste better by letting the air out, also you can supply iron called bivalent iron which absorbs in your body easily since it dissolves into the water. Stately and chic design, and by maintenance it will last a lifetime which are the reasons why it iron kettle is attractive.
Tea kettle (Tetsubin)
When you mention tetsubin, you will imagin a pattern with small spheres lined up regulary which is called Arare pattern, and it is Nanbu kettle's original pattern. Small unevenness increases the surface areas of the tetsubin and retains the heat more, and this wisdom was born from the predecessor. In addition, there are animal patterns likedragons, crane and tortoise, plant patterns like sakura and kiku.
Furin (Wind Bell)
Furin(wind chime) has a high and clear tone which you can't imagin from the appearance, and also the tone is long. Fuurin is also choosen for「One Hundred Soundscapes of Japan:Preserving Our Heritage」which is made by the Ministry of the Environment. You can enjoy a refreshingly cool sound which you can not hear from a furin made from glass and brass.