Morioka and Mizusawa: The Modern Strengths of Nambu Ironware Forged From Two Origins

Members-only2025.11.14

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#Illustrated Dictionary of Japanese Craft

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It might come as a surprise to learn that a single craft actually has two different origins.

Nambu ironware, a craft that Iwate Prefecture proudly presents to the world, is another such craft with a complex and rich background. One region pursued the path of fine art, while the other focused on creating everyday items for the populace.

Exploring the history of how these two streams met and formed a single major brand that continues to this day offers a fascinating glimpse into how tradition is carried into the future.

Ironware from Morioka, Born Under the Patronage of the Nambu Clan

The story of ironware production in Morioka begins in the 17th century, during the early Edo period. The craft's inception was sparked by the lord of the Nambu clan, who ruled the area at the time and had a deep interest in the culture of the tea ceremony (chanoyu).

The lord invited Koizumi Nizaemon, a master craftsman (kamashi) specializing in making tea ceremony kettles (chanoyugama), from Kyoto. Under the clan's generous patronage, he was commissioned to create high-quality tea kettles.

These kettles were used as gifts or offerings from the clan to the shogunate and other feudal lords (daimyo).

Consequently, the ironware that developed in Morioka took on a strong character as sophisticated works of art for daimyo and tea masters, rather than mere practical tools. The clan’s generous support for the casters, coupled with a deep respect for their skills and philosophies, fostered an environment that nurtured highly artistic craftsmanship.

Mizusawa's Castings, Tracing Back to Hiraizumi Culture

On the other hand, the castings from Mizusawa in Oshu City, the other source of Nambu ironware, have an even older history than Morioka's. Its origins are believed to stretch back about 950 years to the late Heian period.

It all started when the Oshu Fujiwara clan, who had established a major cultural sphere in the Tohoku region, invited skilled casters from Omi Province (present-day Shiga Prefecture).

To bolster the flourishing Hiraizumi culture—epitomized by the World Heritage site Chuson-ji Konjikido—they produced Buddhist altar fittings and temple bells. At the same time, they also crafted everyday essentials like pots and pans vital for daily life.

While the local casting industry faced a temporary decline after the fall of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, the techniques themselves remained firmly embedded in the community. Thus, a tradition of creating practical tools that catered to the daily lives of the common people, rather than art objects for the powerful, was established in Mizusawa.