Sunken Hearth – Traditional Japanese Fireplace

Thursday Challenge –  FIRE (Candle, Fireplace, Fireworks, Sparks,…)

Traditional sunken hearth and adjustable hanging hook known as a jizai-kagi.

Irori -an open fireplace or traditional sunken hearth Toyama Farmhouse

Visiting the ancient old farmhouse (now a Folk Museum) I loved the family room with the open fireplace or traditional sunken hearth made of iron, known as an Irori. Hanging above the Irori is a hook for hanging heating pots for water, cooking meals, tea-making and providing warmth to the inhabitants.The  hanging hook is adjustable and is known as a jizai-kagi.

The Irori is the central place in the farmhouse where the family gather to share meals and discuss the days events. It is easy to imagine a timber fire burning brightly in this room with all the family gathered round, trying to keep warm, chill winds blowing, and snow falling outside. The Shirakawa  region has one of the  heaviest snowfalls in the world with yearly falls averaging out to around 10 meters. The region  isolated for centuries from the rest of the country because of the mountain ranges and heavy snow.

This picture post  shared in the Thursday Photo Challenge – for fun and learning.

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