Traditional craft
Yamagata Imono
山形鋳物
Thin, finely surfaced cast-iron kettles, pots and bronze vases from Yamagata city, where many of Japan's tea-ceremony kettles are made.
Key facts
- Officially recognised
- 17 February 1975
- Type
- Metalwork
- Region
- Tohoku
- Official name in Japanese
- 山形鋳物
- Official area (in Japanese)
- 山形市
Thin walls, fine surfaces
Many of the kettles used in the Japanese tea ceremony are made in Yamagata. Its iron kettles, bronze vases, iron pots and ornaments are thin-walled, with delicate surfaces and precise shapes. It is made in Yamagata city in Yamagata.
A pattern on washi paper
- The design is set and an outer mould is made from local sand and clay.
- The pattern is drawn on thin washi paper and pasted inside the mould to transfer it.
- A core called nakago is set inside to form the hollow, and molten iron is poured in.
- The piece is taken out, bisque-fired, coloured and finished.
Sand found on campaign
In the mid-Heian period, Minamoto no Yoriyoshi campaigned through the Yamagata region to put down an uprising. Casters travelling with his army found that sand from a river in today's Yamagata city and the soil around Chitose Park were ideal for casting. Some of them stayed, and Yamagata Imono has some 900 years of history.
Good to know
- Look for modern teapots and colourful pieces alongside classic kettles.
- Ask whether a piece is iron or bronze: Yamagata makes both.
Questions travellers ask
Is Yamagata Imono only iron?
No. It includes iron kettles and pots as well as bronze vases and copper-alloy ware.
How old is Yamagata Imono?
About 900 years, dating to the mid-Heian period.
Where it comes from
More crafts from the same area
Local foods from the same area
Heritage stories from the same area
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.