An Iron Choshi with thread line pattern

Showa 4 Autumn (1929)

About the work

A finely cast Nambu iron choshi (sake or water pouring vessel) by Koizumi Nizaemon
VIII of Morioka, a master craftsman in the distinguished Koizumi lineage of Nambu
ironware makers. The vessel’s surface is decorated with a refined thread-line pattern,
its rhythmic texture enlivening the sober form. The spout is crisply projected, and the
lid surmounted by a rounded knop, demonstrating both functional precision and
aesthetic balance.
This vessel was created in Showa 4 (1929) to commemorate the completion of the
Domizawa Reservoir (堂見沢溜池) in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. During the
early Showa years, particularly across the Tohoku region, many small- and medium-
scale reservoirs and dams were constructed as part of broader land improvement and
irrigation projects. The Domizawa Reservoir stood within this national movement to
modernize agriculture, when the late 1920s and 1930s saw a dramatic expansion in
both agricultural ponds and the beginnings of multipurpose dam development under
comprehensive river management policies.
The underside of the lid bears a commemorative inscription from this project, attesting
to its historical role. The maker’s incised signature beside the spout further
authenticates its workshop origin.

Dimensions

17.6cm(h) x 18.6cm(w) x 14.2cm(d)

Weight: 1.46kg

Footnote

Koizumi Nizaemon VIII (八代小泉仁左衛門, 1874–1952) was the eighth
head of the Koizumi family, a celebrated line of Nambu tekki (Nambu ironware)
masters in Morioka. Over his career spanning the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, he
exhibited at major national and international expositions, receiving grand prizes and
gold medals, and was selected for the prestigious Teiten (Imperial Art Exhibitions).
His refined kettles and pouring vessels helped solidify the reputation of Nambu
ironwork for technical excellence and aesthetic quality.
During the turbulent pre-war years, Nizaemon confronted the 1938 Iron Control Order,
which placed traditional casting in crisis. In response, he co-founded the Nambu
Ironware Technical Preservation Society, serving as a director to safeguard the craft’s
survival. His efforts ensured that Nambu ironware not only endured wartime

challenges but also flourished as one of Japan’s most important traditional
metalworking traditions.

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