*THIS ITEM WEIGHS 5725 GRAMS WITHOUT PACKAGING, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR SHIPPING DETAILS AND UPGRADES.

This listing is for a kama made around 30-40 years ago by master craftsman Wada Minosuke XII.  A kama is a metal pot that functions as a kettle during the tea ceremony. It is used to heat up water for making tea. Kama are usually made from iron or copper, although the lid is sometimes made from a different material to the actual kettle. The lids are forged the same time as the kettle so they match the pot perfectly. During the tea ceremony the lid of the kettle is removed and placed on a futaoki. When all of the guests have had enough tea the lid is placed back on top. Sometimes it is necessary to move the kama in order to add more charcoal to the fire. Two loops are cast on the shoulder to attach rings when the kama is to be carried.  The kama in this listing is cast from wrought iron, metal rings for carrying the kettle are also included. It comes with its original signed wooden storage box.   

Wada Minosuke XII (b.1941) was born in Kyoto City and is the 12^th generation master of the revered ‘Wada Shinano Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu’ bell casting family who has been in business since the Edo period.  The first generation held the official title of ‘Wada Shinano Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu’ and lived in Sanjo Kamanza, Kyoto.  Kamanza was largely inhabited by the metal casting guild in Kyoto, and Wada was the head.  He cast kettles and hanging bells for temples, his work can be found as far north as Kōzen-ji temple in Yamagata Prefecture.  The second generation was known as ‘Wada Shinano Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu Gohei’ and he continued the casting tradition.  In 1636 he cast a massive bell for Chion-in Temple in Kyoto.  It measures 3.3 metres high and weighs 70 tonnes, making it one of the largest bells in Japan.  In 1689 he was given the rank of ‘Jugoi’, which translates as Junior Fifth Rank.  Successive generations continued to cast temple bells, well-known examples being  at Daitokuji Temple (Kyoto), Honnoji Temple(Tokyo), Myoshinji Temple (Kyoto), Manpukuji Temple (Kyoto), Kenninji Temple (Kyoto), Kiyomizudera Okunoin Temple (Kyoto), Kurodani Konkai Komyoji Temple (Kyoto), and Hyakumanben Chion-in Temple (Kyoto).  In 1864 the Hamaguri Gate Rebellion against the Tokugawa Shogunate destroyed important works that couldn’t be restored, and this inevitably ushered in a new era for the Wada family.  The 10^th generation Wada Minosuke moved away from casting bells and turned to casting kettles for the tea ceremony.  The 11^th generation inherited the former generation’s techniques and incorporated old casting methods from the 1^st generation.  He passed away in 1960 and was succeeded by Wada Minosuke XII.  The 12^th generation inherited techniques from successive generations and devoted his career to research and improvement.  His work is in very high demand among dealers who specifically buy pieces for respected collectors and tea practitioners.  The prestigious Wada family is now in its 13^th generation.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.                                                                                  

Sizes

Box:  H.24.1cm (9.4”) x 29.3cm (11.5”) x 29.3cm (11.5”)

Kama:  H.26.5cm (10.4”) x 21cm (8.2”) across                                                                         

Condition

The interior is in very good condition and has been well taken care of.  There’s some light wear on both sides of the lid, and some very minor surface rust on the bottom.   The exterior has an orange tinge which I assume to be very light surface rust.  The rails under the lid need a spot of glue, and there’s a split in the bottom of the box.                   

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA: SAL Sea Mail (approx. 11-12 weeks), an upgrade for EMS Express (10-15 days) available for an additional 13,100 yen. 

**UK , Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: SAL Sea Mail (approx. 8-12 weeks depending on the destination), an upgrade for EMS Express (10-15 days) available for an additional 11,100 yen. 

**Asia: SAL Sea Mail (approx. 6-8 weeks), an upgrade for EMS Express (7-10 days) available for an additional 5250 yen.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.