Irori

An irori (囲炉裏, 居炉裏) is a traditional Japanese sunken hearth fired with charcoal. Used for heating the home and for cooking food, it is essentially a square, stone-lined pit in the floor, equipped with an adjustable pothook – called a jizaikagi (自在鉤) and generally consisting of an iron rod within a bamboo tube – used for raising or lowering a suspended pot or kettle by means of an attached lever which is often decoratively designed in the shape of a fish.[1] Historically irori served as the main source of residential heating and lighting, providing a place to cook, dry clothing, and serve as a communal gathering location.

Irori
  • Irori
    Irori
  • An actively used irori
  • Small irori
    Small irori
  • A jizaikagi hearth hook with fish-shaped counterbalance
    A jizaikagi hearth hook with fish-shaped counterbalance
  • An irori in use
    An irori in use
  • An irori in a train station waiting room, 2010
    An irori in a train station waiting room, 2010

Footnotes
  1. Fahr-Becker (2001), p196

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Irori.
  • Fahr-Becker, Gabriele (2001) [2000]. Ryokan - A Japanese Tradition. Cologne: Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH. ISBN 3-8290-4829-7.


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