Collection: OITOMI since1848
Nambu Ironware / OITOMI
Their ironware has been challenging the times for over 200 years.
Oitomi — Nearly 200 Years of Strength and Craftsmanship
What began in 1848 as a small workshop named “Hōshōdō Oikawa Tominoshin” later became known as Oitomi. Since then, the brand has continued crafting Nambu ironware in Mizusawa, Iwate. For more than 150 years, the workshop has produced tea kettles, teapots, and iron kettles—preserving not only techniques, but also original design drawings that reflect generations of craftsmanship.
Their artisans once depicted the plants and animals of Mizusawa with vibrant expression, breathing life into the surface of each iron kettle. Today, these artistic expressions remain as inherited molds, giving shape to new creations.
A defining feature of Oitomi’s manufacturing is its fully integrated process—from design to casting, finishing, and final sales—all carried out in-house.
By understanding the nature of iron, refining polishing techniques, achieving precise casting, and relying on the trained eyes and sensibilities of master craftspeople, Oitomi continues to create ironware truly worthy of the words “robust, essential, and authentic.”
The First Nambu Ironware to Cross the Ocean
In 1954, the iron kettle “Kagome” crafted by Oitomi became the very first Nambu ironware to be exported overseas. Today, Nambu ironware is admired around the world, but its very first step into the global market began here, with Oitomi.
The spirit of constantly updating, improving, and taking on new challenges continues in Oitomi today. While preserving the traditional arare (hailstone) pattern, they introduced vivid traditional Japanese colors such as indigo blue and deep crimson. These design innovations created iron kettles that harmonize beautifully with modern lifestyles.
As a long-established maker committed to ongoing evolution, Oitomi continues to share the appeal of Japanese cast iron with the world.
About Nambu Ironware
Nambu Tekki, or Nambu cast ironware, is one of Japan’s most iconic metalcraft traditions, passed down for more than 400 years in the region of Morioka and Ōshū in Iwate Prefecture.
It is said to have originated in the 17th century under the patronage of the Nambu Clan, beginning with the crafting of kettles for the tea ceremony.
The process remains largely unchanged even today: molten iron is carefully poured into sand molds, and each piece is finished by hand by skilled artisans.
The thick cast iron conducts heat slowly and evenly, retaining warmth, and it is said to soften and mellow the taste of boiled water.
Water heated in a Nambu Tekki kettle develops a smooth, rounded flavor, enhancing the depth and aroma of coffee and tea.
Another charm lies in the fact that the surface matures with use, gradually developing a rich sheen over time.
With proper care, a Nambu Tekki kettle can last for generations — truly a lifelong tool, durable enough to be used even a hundred years from now.