Iga-yaki Water Grill for Tabletop Grilling
Yakitori, yakiniku, grilled fish, you name it: Japanese culture has a long history of grilling ingredients over a small charcoal grill. And, we say nothing tastes better than when the ingredients are cooked over authentic Binchotan Charcoal.
This Iga-yaki Mizu Konro (water grill) is a portable charcoal grill with donabe konro (clay pot grill bowl) made of historic Iga clay. You can enjoy Japanese style tabletop grilling on your outdoor patio or indoors as long as it is in a well-ventilated area. (open up the windows and the delightful aroma will make your neighbors jealous!).
First, fill the bowl with about an inch (2.5 - 3 cm) of water. Place the insert tray with lit charcoal above the water, then put the grilling net on top. The water in the bottom bowl will create steam, helping the charcoal heat up faster, and last longer.
Check the step-by-step How to Grill with Mizu Konro in our recipe page "Happy Donabe Life."
True “Terroir” of Iga
Iga region, where this pottery is made, used to be the bed of Lake Biwa about 4 million years ago. The clay is coarse and consists of a high level of pre-historic fossilized microorganisms that leave the clay porous when fired. With this effect, when Iga-yaki (Iga-style) pottery is crafted by artisanal hands, it creates the signature wabi-sabi (“unfinished beauty”) look. This exceptional wabi-sabi beauty of Iga-yaki pottery has been praised by pottery lovers in Japan over centuries.
Authentic Iga-yaki Pottery by Nagatani-en
Iga-yaki (Iga-style) pottery is one of Japan’s most highly-regarded traditional ceramics and is said to have originated in Iga, Mie-Prefecture in late 7th Century. This donabe is made by Nagatani-en, a leading producer of authentic Iga-yaki pottery since 1832. At Nagatani-en, each donabe is made by hand with care and it takes about 2 weeks to produce an individual donabe. Nagatani-en’s Iga-yaki products have been loved by both professionals and home cooks in Japan.
Your Donabe Develops its Character as it Ages
As you use your donabe over and over, it will develop character. Its color and texture could change slightly over time. These are all the welcoming characteristics of Iga-yaki's historic wabi-sabi beauty and would make your donabe more personal and special.
The very thin cracks could appear on the surface of the glazed donabe bowl. It’s called “kannyu” in Japanese and the cracks run like veins. They are the naturally developed cracks on the glaze and won’t affect the function of the donabe.
All the donabe and Iga-yaki products made by Nagatani-en are hand-crafted with care, so every piece is unique and no two pieces are identical. There are slight variations within the color/ shade, shape/ curve, and patterns, among pieces, and that makes each piece so special. Also under different lighting and angle, the actual color shade and nuance may also appear slightly different from the photos in the product page.
Large
Ideal for 3 – 5 people
- Size: 12” diameter x 5.1” high (16 cm diameter x 13 cm high)
- Weight: 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)
Small
Ideal for 1 – 2 people
- Size: 6” diameter x 3.5” high (15 cm diameter x 9 cm high)
- Weight: 1.7 lbs (0.8 kg)
Material: Clay (bottom bowl and insert tray), stainless steel (grill top)
Producer: Nagatani-en
Origin: Iga, Japan
Included in the package: Grill bowl, unglazed insert tray, metal grate (grill top), ceramic trivet, and English instruction sheet.
Usage and Care
- Make sure bowl has enough water during cooking. Replenish as necessary.
- Always make sure the product is used outdoor or in a very well-ventilated area. Hot charcoal produces odorless carbon monoxide and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning in poorly-ventilated space. Never use this product or leave the hot charcoal (until it’s completely extinguished) unattended in a confined or under-ventilated space. Even when the charcoal is cooling down, it will still release carbon monoxide until it’s completely extinguished.
- Make sure you know how to lite, extinguish, and finish charcoal properly.
- Make sure to extinguish all the charcoal and ashes properly. Even if the used charcoal is not glowing anymore, it might be still lit inside. Use proper charcoal extinguishing techniques/ equipment to safely extinguish the charcoal completely.
- This product is not dishwasher-safe.
- Grate and bowl: Hand Wash Only. To clean: use sponge and mild soap.
- Insert tray: Always Keep Dry. Water can cause cracking. To clean: wipe off any ashes with paper towel.
