Coming Soon : Secrets of the Hibachi
Discover the secrets of Japan's vanished portable heaters
In the United States, the word hibachi has become synonymous with tabletop grills or a style of cooking. But in Japan it refers to a heating device.
Through the 1950s they were an indispensable feature of nearly every Japanese home, shop, and restaurant. But now hibachi have largely vanished from daily life. The rich and fascinating culture that developed around hibachi is increasingly slipping away into the fog of the past.
I started my research of hibachi in 2023. During the past two months I have been working on it pretty much every day from early morning til late at night. Finally, the first of several articles will go live on Tuesday (February 25).
Old Photos of Japan articles always feature lots of images. But this series outdoes them all. It introduces some 50 images, some of them exceedingly rare. I purchased quite a few specifically for this series. They illustrate the all-important role of the hibachi in daily life in an incomparable way.
There are several small surprises in this series. One of them is about cats. Even if you are not into cats you will enjoy this little tidbit.
The first article will give a brief introduction, the next one will share insightful contemporary descriptions, and the next one (or two) will introduce the five main types of hibachi seen in vintage photos of old Japan. I also delve into some tricks that were used to keep the hibachi fire burning.
Incidentally, these articles are a continuation of a short series about staying warm in old Japan that I published a little over a year ago. If you missed it, here it is:
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