Editing Tetsubin (section)

{{Short description|Japanese cast iron kettle}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2008}}
[[Image:Hanging kettle in Japan.jpg|thumb|A tetsubin cast-iron kettle is suspended over an [[irori]] hearth in a traditional Japanese style farm house, at the Boso-no-Mura Museum]]
[[File:Tetsubin-kanagawa-2021-March-7.webm|thumb|alt=A video with the camera spinning around a tetsubin on a brasier (hibachi)|A tetsubin on a brazier (''[[hibachi]]'')]]
{{Nihongo|2=鉄瓶|3='''Tetsubin'''}} are Japanese [[cast iron|cast-iron]] kettles with a pouring spout, a lid, and a handle crossing over the top, used for boiling and pouring hot water for drinking purposes, such as for making [[tea]].

''Tetsubin'' are traditionally heated over [[charcoal]]. In the Japanese art of [[Japanese tea ceremony|''chanoyu'']], the special portable [[brazier]] for this is the {{Nihongo|2=瓶掛|3=binkake}}. (See [[list of Japanese tea ceremony equipment]]).
''Tetsubin'' are often elaborately decorated with [[relief]] designs on the outside. They range widely in size, and many have unusual shapes, making them popular with [[Collecting|collectors]]. A relatively small ''tetsubin'' may hold around 0.5 [[litres]] of water; large ones may hold around 5 litres.

[[Image:Red tetsubin.jpg|thumb|Tetsubin can be found in many colors with various designs and patterns such as this red one that has symbols depicting each of the four seasons for good luck]]

The historical origin of the ''tetsubin'' is not certain. At least one authoritative Japanese source<ref>''Genshoku Chadō Daijiten'' 原色茶道大辞典: Tankosha, 1975. Japanese illustrated encyclopedia of "the way of tea", entry for "tedorigama".</ref> states that it developed from the spouted and handled water [[kettle]] called ''tedorigama'' that was already being used in ''chanoyu''  in the era of [[Sen no Rikyū]] (1522–1591). During the 19th century, [[infuse]]d tea became more popular and tetsubin were considered primarily [[status symbol]]s rather than functional kitchen items.
 
Outside Japan, a frequently seen variant is a cast-iron '''teapot''' that outwardly resembles a ''tetsubin''. This type of teapot is glazed with [[Vitreous enamel|enamel]] on the inside to make it more practical for [[tea brewing]], though it cannot be used to heat water because that would break the enamel coating. In the west, these teapots are commonly referred to as ''tetsubin'', although the Japanese call them {{Nihongo|2=鉄急須|3=tetsukyūsu}}, or iron teapot, to make a distinction from the kettle. Cast-iron teapots often come with a [[tea strainer]] that fits inside.

The [[prefectures]] of [[Iwate Prefecture|Iwate]] and [[Yamagata Prefecture|Yamagata]] are best known for producing ''tetsubin'' as well as iron teapots.

[[Image:TetsubinBlack.JPG|thumb| A modern cast-iron teapot in use at the [[Asian Art Museum of San Francisco]] café]]