The joy of a first-burner stove and the warmth of a beveled stove

In May, the fresh greenery is dazzling and the wild flowers are blooming all at once. With the last traces of spring behind us and early summer in sight, this is the season when the "Shoburo" (first brazier) is used in the tea ceremony.

"Hatsuburo" is the first tea ceremony when the furo is used again. It is the turning point when the ro (fireplace) used from winter to spring is closed and replaced with a furo (fireplace). The tea ceremony year begins with the opening of the ro in November and transitions to "summer tea ceremony" with the hatsuburo in May.

This change completely changes the scenery and the arrangement of the tea ceremony tools in the tea room. The hearth embedded in the tatami mats is closed, and a brazier placed on the floor is used. A light and cool feeling begins to fill the tea room.

At Suzakuken, we use a "beveled furo" for the first furo tea ceremony. This name comes from the fact that the rim of the furo, that is, the top corners of the furo are beveled off, is a type of furo with a shape that is softened by the "beveling" process.

This chamfering allows a slight glimpse of the red charcoal fire between the kettle and the brazier - this "view of the fire" is the greatest attraction of the chamfered brazier.

On the other hand, with the "Kiriawase Furo," the blades of the kettle and the mouth of the furo fit together perfectly, so the charcoal fire is not visible from the outside. It looks neat and tidy, but any traces of fire are completely hidden.

The time of the first furo is a season when it is still cool in the mornings and evenings. It is not as hot as midsummer, and the slight warmth in the tea room feels rather comfortable. For this reason, we believe that a beveled furo, which gives a subtle sense of the charcoal fire, is the perfect way to entertain guests.

The aesthetic of the tea ceremony is to cherish the "invisible" things, and within that "invisibility" the faint glow of a charcoal fire subtly exudes the host's thoughtfulness -- I think the beveled furo exudes such warmth.

In addition, the soft curves of the beveled brazier enhance the shape of the kettle, and the small space created between the brazier and the kettle seems to make the air flow in the tearoom even visible.

May is the month when the furo season begins. In a tea room where the green breeze blows through, listen carefully to the sound of the water boiling, and feel the warmth of the fire as you brew a cup of tea. The silence and gentleness of this moment is the joy of the hatsu-furo season.