Cast Iron Frying Pan

Produced by skilled craftspeople in Osaka, this frying pan is made of cast-iron with a removable wooden handle allowing it to also be used as a plate. The design concept of this pan is to combine cooking and eating, and has been refined through much trial and error. The pan was named JIU, which is the same pronunciation as the number 10 in Japanese, because it resembles the numerals when the detachable handle is placed next to it. The handle is made of high-grade wood from Tendo City in Yamagata Prefecture, known for its abundant nature and mountainous landscape. The built-in sliding mechanism allows the handle to be firmly attached or alternatively easily removed by the slide of a thumb. The thick cast-iron pan, strengthened through a hardening and tempering process, is extremely durable and has excellent heat retention allowing the food to stay warm after cooking. The heat conductivity of the pan helps with cooking the ingredients slowly and evenly, which brings out their flavour better.

Kansai

The Kansai region includes the second-most populated metropolitan area in Japan with its largest city Osaka. Kyoto and Nara, two of Japan’s former capital cities, are home to important temples and shrines and strongholds of intangible cultural heritage, such as the Kyoto textile weaving skills of Nishijin.