A metal casting studio in Yamagata, Japan, founded by Hisanori Masuda in 1997, has dedicated decades to learning the traditional craft of Japanese tea kettles (chagama) from local artisans, guided by a belief that traditional craftsmanship can be revitalised through modernity. A contemporary take on old Japanese traditions, Chushin Kobo’s thoughtfully cast-iron pieces are sought after by a new generation of Japanese youth who embrace the old while living in the new.