Fresh Take on an Iron Tradition: Colorful Nanbu Tekki from Iwate

Iwachū’s colorful Nanbu tekki teapots are a hit in the West; the company also makes colorful knickknacks and incense burners. (© Iwachū)

Iwachū Tekkikan is a theme-park-style ironworks welcoming visitors from all over the world. (© Iwachū)

The countless dots lining the surface of this tea kettle are known as an arare pattern. It is a technique handed down from past generations to add mass to the iron for better heat retention. (© Iwachū)

Traditional casting process. A casting mold is made from fine river sand and clay, and then filled with 1,500°C molten iron. (© Iwachū)

The kettle is removed from the mold, and then lacquered and painted under heat. This casting method only allows for five pieces to be made from each mold. (© Iwachū)

The Morioka sales floor was modernized for a November 2019 reopening. (© Iwachū)

With their colorful surface and enameled interior, these teapots are quite collectible at ¥7,000. Prices overseas are around 2.5 times as much, which is not at all cheap, but they still have passionate fans. (© Iwachū)

This coffee pot proved so popular it faced shortages for a time. (© Iwachū)

Iwachū is also developing cookware with better induction heating response. (© Iwachū)

Applying color at the workshop. The kettle is heated to around 250ºC while the surface is lacquered. (© Iwachū)

This arare pattern includes as many as three thousand dots on a single kettle. The skill of Iwachū artisans is a must-see at the Tekkikan. (© Iwachū)