Name: IWACHU Casting Works
Prefecture: Iwate Prefecture
Area name: Morioka City

A hands-on private tour through the factory and studio known for “Nambu Tekki” homewares

Southern iron, a special product of iwate, is a traditional craft with a 400-year history.It is said that the lord of the Southern Morioka clan who had a deep knowledge of the tea ceremony began to make the tea kettle by inviting a kettle from Kyoto, and it developed as an industry.

The “Rock cast Iron” pavilion, located approximately 15 minutes by car from Jr Morioka station, is a theme park-type factory operated by the long-established and rock casting of the Southern Iron Company founded in 1902.There is a workshop where you can see the artisan’s work landscape and a shop with a Southern Iron item.There are many colorful items that are produced by rock casting, and they are exported to more than 20 countries such as France, Germany and the United States.

A tour of the production landscape of the powerful Southern Iron

At the back of the museum, you can see the sight of craftsmen who are qualified to be a traditional craftsman by hand to produce the Southern Iron Irons.There are 68 processes to make one tetsubin, and it takes about three weeks to complete.The process which can be seen by the day visited is different, but one of the attractions is the work to pour the iron melted into liquid into a mold.The temperature of iron becomes 1400 ~ 1500 ℃, and the craftsmanship which manipulates a dazzling iron like the flame is compelling.

A close look at the delicate manual work of craftsmen

The process of coloring the Tetsubin is also a highlight.The Tetsubin is heated to about 250 ℃, and the lacquer is baked with a brush on the surface.In addition, the liquid called “Ohaguro” and “tea juice” is sweep carefully so that the temperature of about 100 ~ 150 ℃ does not become uneven.
In addition, the process of making a mold with sand and clay, and stamped a delicate projection evenly at intervals with a stick while not drying the mold, there is a process to make up the pattern, eyes will be glued to the appearance of the craftsmen who work intensively.

Plenty of southern iron items to fit into your kitchen or living room

In the shop space, the old-fashioned tetsubin, of course, the Southern Iron items such as colorful kitchen goods and miscellaneous goods to cuddle with modern life.There is also an item corresponding to the IH cooker, it is perfect for everyday use.

The boiling water in the tetsubin is very mellow and becomes the iron supply.If you prefer a smaller size, brew tea pot is recommended.The Southern Iron pot is excellent in heat retention and extracts the taste and aroma of tea leaves carefully.
Other accessories such as wind chimes, paper weights, and candle stands are perfect for a single point or a present in the interior.

Facility Name Rock cast iron instrument building
Location 2-23-9 minami-semboku, morioka-shi, Iwate
Phone number 019-635-2505
Opening hours 8:30 ~ 17:30
Closed on tuesdays, December 31, and January 1
Free of charge
Access 15 minutes by taxi from Jr Morioka Station
URL http://iwachu.co.jp/museum/