Nambu Tekki Yonezawa Fuji-shaped Tetsubin, “Takasago”

Morioka is a region rich in resources and materials that are used for iron making; everything that was necessary, such as iron sand, clay, charcoal and lacquer, was available in the area. Taking advantage of these natural resources, the Nambu clan invited artisans and craftsmen of cast ironwork from Kyoto and Koshu, retaining them within the domain to foster development of industry and culture in the region.
The Mizusawa area in the south of Iwate prefecture (present Hada-cho, Mizusawa-ku, Oshu City) also has a long tradition of cast ironwork. In fact, it has a longer history of iron-casting, dating back to the years of the Oshu Fujiwara Family, who flourished in their capital city Hiraizumi in the late Heian period (12th century).
Currently, ironware produced in both Morioka city and Oshu city are registered to carry the local brand name of “Nambu Tekki.”