Morioka's creators are catching global needs and never stop innovating.

Iwachu Tekkikan (岩鋳鐡器館) is a theme park-style museum operated by Iwachu, a Nambu Ironware manufacturer in Morioka. Visitors can observe the skills of the artisans, known as kamashi (kettle masters), up close. The exhibition gallery is lined with ironware from both past and present. One can feel inspired by how the group of creators embraced the changes of the times, enhancing the functionality of their tools while achieving evolution.

Meanwhile, the ironware studio Kamasada (釜定) displays a multitude of daily goods and tableware packed into its atmospheric Japanese-style storefront. The works uniformly feature refined, beautiful forms, demonstrating a pursuit of beauty-in-utility by eliminating unnecessary elements. Water boiled in a Nambu Ironware tetsubin is known for its mild and mellow taste.

The iron that dissolves into the water can supplement often-lacking iron content, making it gentle on the body even when drunk as plain hot water. For those who enjoy tea or coffee, updating from an electric kettle to a tetsubin is an option. Recently, there are also tetsubin that can be used on IH induction cookers.

There are a few small tricks to using it. First, use it daily. Second, after use, open the lid and thoroughly dry the inside using residual heat. Doing this allows calcium, known as yuaka (limescale), to adhere to the inside, which prevents rust. Durable ironware gains more character the longer you use it, becoming your own unique, lifelong tool.