～Irori: The Traditional Japanese Sunken Hearth～
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Iiyama is a region known for its exceptionally heavy snowfall. In the past, an irori (traditional sunken hearth) could be found in almost every home. More than just a source of warmth, the irori was highly versatile and central to daily life; from boiling water in iron kettles (tetsubin), cooking hot pot dishes, to grilling fresh fish.
The history of the irori dates all the way back to the Jomon period. In the pit dwellings of that era, the standard setup was an earth hearth surrounded by stones built directly into the floor. By the Heian period, nobles used portable hearths in their estates. In the Kamakura period, a built-in style recessed into the floor emerged in samurai residences. Finally, during the Edo period, irori equipped with a jizaikagi (adjustable hearth hook) became widely popular, especially in rural farming villages. Historically, the jizaikagi was predominant in eastern Japan, while the gotoku (tripod) was more common in western Japan.
Although the irori rapidly vanished following changes in housing styles after World War II, it is being rediscovered today in traditional-style cafes and celebrated as a quintessential element of traditional Japanese architecture.
Pit Dwellings (Tateana-jukyo)
These are semi-subterranean dwellings constructed by digging 30 to 100 cm into the ground to create a floor, setting up wooden pillars, and covering them with a thatched roof. Offering excellent thermal insulation, this structure kept the interior cool in summer and warm in winter.
Jizaikagi: The Adjustable Hearth Hook
Suspended from the ceiling beams above the irori, this traditional Japanese utensil allows the height of pots, cauldrons, or iron kettles to be adjusted freely. Typically crafted from bamboo or iron, it features a clever locking mechanism that uses a wooden lever, which is often beautifully carved into shapes like fish or fans, to fix the hook at the desired height.
Gotoku: The Cooking Tripod
This is a metal support trivet or tripod used on gas stoves, inside irori, or on camping burners to stably hold pots, pans, and kettles above the flame.
