Savour Tradition with Japanese Teapots
In the realm of Japanese culture, tea holds a paramount place, and at the heart of this tradition are the Japanese teapots, or 'kyusu.' These teapots embody more than just functionality—they represent an intersection of artistry, ceremony, and taste, promising an enriching tea-drinking experience.
In the Japanese Teapots & Tea Sets section, Japan Box offers you high quality Japanese tea ware at the best price. Each Japanese teapot or tea set is perfect for extensive use for yourself or to offer to people you love.
Teapots of every kind are made all over Japan. Specialized pottery shops sell all shapes and sizes, some clay, some porcelain, some rustic-style earthenware, others quite fanciful that will make you smile.
Since the variety is endless, you could easily spend countless pleasant hours searching for the ideal one.
It is said that some tea lovers prefer certain styles for certain teas, but it is really up to each person to decide their own preference.
Kyusu Teapot
Kyusu (急須 in Japanese) is a traditional Japanese teapot used mainly for brewing green tea. The common misconception is that a kyusu always has a handle on the side. However, the word "kyusu" simply means "teapot", even though in common usage kyusu usually refers to a teapot with a side handle.
Yokode Kyusu are teapots with the handles on the side of the pot. Thanks to the design of these teapots, it is easy to pour out even the last drop of tea.
This teapot is the most widespread in Japan, in a wide price range, from collector's items to cheap everyday teapots. The most famous Kyusu teapots are Tokoname teapots and Banko teapots.
Ushirode Kyusu have the handle on the back of the teapot, just like teapots in other parts of the world. These teapots are easy to use whether you are right- or left-handed and are particularly suitable for those who are used to using Western-style teapots.
What will really set them apart from a western style teapot is the patterns, the design on the teapots, which will be Japanese.
Arita porcelain teapots are also really famous because of the great quality of the porcelain and the traditional Japanese design (contrast of blue and white).
Dobin Teapot
The second most common teapot, after the Yokode Kyusu, is the Dobin teapot. The handle, usually made of bamboo, rattan or plastic, is attached to the teapots with hooks and has the advantage of staying cool in the teapot despite the heat.
They are made of porcelain or clay and used like normal teapots. Dobin used to refer to pots made of heat-resistant material, which were used as kettles to
used as kettles for boiling water and also for brewing medicinal herbs. The handle can of course be changed if necessary and is usually supplied as a Japanese tea set.
Tetsubin Teapot
Tetsubin (鉄瓶) or Japanese cast iron teapots (cast iron teapots) were originally kitchen items used for boiling water and brewing tea.
When tea drinking became popular in the mid-19th century, tetsubin became status symbols and were no longer considered simple kitchen items.
The two prefectures best known for tetsubin are Iwate, where the best designs and quality are produced at a reasonable price, and Yamagata, best known for the handmade tetsubin and changama favoured by tea ceremony masters.
The size varies greatly, and many have unusual shapes, making them popular with collectors. A relatively small tetsubin can hold about 0.5 litres of water, while large ones hold about 5 litres.
As you can imagine, prices also vary widely, as there are both antiques and for everyday use. Japanese cast iron pots usually have a pouring spout and a handle that crosses over the top.
They are used for boiling and pouring hot water for drinking purposes, such as making tea. The water is valued as a food source for iron as it is released into the water. The historical origin of tetsubin is not certain.
At least one authoritative Japanese source says that it evolved from the spout-and-handle water kettle called tedorigama, which was already in use in chanoyu in the era of Sen no Rikyū (1522-91).
The cast-iron teapots are traditionally heated over a charcoal fire. In Japanese chanoyu art, the special portable firing vessel for this is the binkake (瓶掛). Tetsubin are often elaborately decorated with relief patterns on the outside.
There is also a relatively small cast-iron pot that resembles a tetsubin but is glazed with enamel on the inside to make it suitable for brewing tea, and could be called an iron kyūsu (急須) or teapot.
Kyūsu often come with a tea strainer that fits inside. Although not a collector's item, these "tetsubin" are the most practical for daily use.
