It is said that the history of Nanbu Ironware (NANBU TEKKI), in the Iwate Prefecture, began with tea kettles.

Kozan (虎山 in Japanese, meaning the tigers of the mountains) name is said to have originated from the fact that the Nanbu clan used to keep tigers near present-day Kitayama mountains in Morioka City. Kozan workshop has been forging for generations iron kettles with unique arare patterns, indicated by small dots aligned vertically and horizontally. It is a simplest geometric patterns, that’s bring a sense of peacefulness.

Nowadays, craftsmen preserve and hand down traditional techniques and carefully handcraft each and every item of tea ceremony kettles and iron kettles. Each one of them has a profound and delicate finish, that is considered a work of art from iron and flame.

By making the best use of traditional techniques in modern times, a wide variety of daily necessities such as pots, wind chimes, ashtrays, ornaments, paperweights, flower vases, etc. are also produced.

In addition to traditional iron kettles designs that have been handed down long ago, there are many more modern models that can be used in everyday life.