The name Iwachu is synonymous with cast ironware of the highest quality, and the brand's varied product range extends from classic Tetsubin kettles, Tetsu Kyusu teapots and trivets to bells, cookware and much more. The brand has its roots in the Meiji period and uphold a 400-year-old Nanbu Tekki tradition. It also has its own production line: every step, from design planning to manufacturing to sales, is carried out by the company itself. Iwachu is dedicated to producing robust cast iron products with excellent functionality and contemporary design. Master casters at the company are required to undergo a minimum of 15 years of training, meaning that all products meet the highest quality standards.
Tetsu-Kyusu
Kambin
Black L
Iwachu
SKU
0375
Yoshi En has recently grown out of Sunday Natural to become an independent premium tea store. As part of this transition, some products may still be shipped in Sunday Natural packaging.
Large black cast iron Tetsu Kyusu teapot by the renowned Japanese Nanbu Tekki brand, Iwachu, with a dotted Arare pattern in a flat, wide Kambin "sake warmer" style with rust-proof enamelled interior and removable stainless steel strainer. Suitable for brewing all kinds of tea from Japanese green teas to herbal tisanes, as well as for gently warming sake.
| Item | Cast iron teapot, black |
| Origin | Morioka, Iwate, Japan |
| Brand | Iwachu |
| Volume | 1.3L |
| Dimensions | 21 x 18 x 10.5cm |
| Weight | 2kg |
| Pattern | Arare (霰 "hail") |
| Coating | Enamelled interior, urethane exterior |
| Strainer | Removable stainless steel basket |
Tetsu Kyusu 鉄急須
The Tetsu Kyusu, literally "iron teapot", has all the rustic charm of the Japanese cast iron Tetsubin kettle but is designed for brewing tea, not for boiling water. Typically smaller, cheaper and lower maintenance than its predecessor, the Tetsu Kyusu comes with a removable stainless steel mesh strainer and is coated with a smooth, shiny enamel on the inside, which means it won’t rust and doesn’t require seasoning. As Tetstu Kyusu are made of solid cast iron, they have excellent heat retention, are highly durable and with good care can be used to brew tea for a lifetime. The special Kambin model (燗瓶) is traditionally used to prepare warm sake and can be heated to body temperature over a low flame.
Nanbu Tekki 南部鉄器
The origins of Nanbu Tekki, or Nanbu ironware, can be traced back to the mid-17th century, when the Nanbu samurai clan were in need of Buddhist altars, bells and Chagama teapots to furnish their newly built castle in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, and so invited skilled metal casters from across the country to lend them a hand. Although the name Nanbu is written in kanji as "southern region", the clan ruled in the north of Japan, where materials needed for ironwork were naturally abundant. Highly durable, Nanbu Tekki is often deemed the best metalwork in Japan and makes beloved heirlooms – particularly cast iron kettles, or Tetsubin, which are also highly sought after by collectors around the world. In 1975, Nanbu Tekki was designated the first certified Traditional Craft of Japan and is used to refer exclusively to cast iron products made in the cities of Morioka and Oshu.
