Though there are literally hundreds of designs of Japanese teapots, the kyusu style often interests collectors of Far Eastern art. This is a very traditional style that is mainly employed to brew green tea. However, many western collectors have a misconception about the style.

While the word kyusu usually refers to a teapot with a side handle, the word itself actually is relatively generic and simply translates to teapot.

A kyusu doesn’t need to have a side handle by definition. However, when one searches for collectibles, they should know that a yokode kyusu always does have the famous handle. This phrase even translates to side-handled teapot.

If one should come across a pot marked as uwade kyusu, they’re looking a top-handled teapot. The ushirode kyusu is a back-handled teapot that is relatively close to those that are common around the world. The chanoyu era saw the rise of handled water kettles that were called tedorigama. As well as these designs, though, collectors might also take an interest in the tetsubin style of Japanese teapots.

A tetsubin is a cast iron kettle that is usually boiled over a charcoal fire. The fact that they are made of iron has lead people to understand that they release iron into the water. This is an important dietary supplement.

However, the elaborate decoration and wide variety in size and shape, rather than dietary condition, is what has made them so endearing to collectors. Iwate and Yamagata prefectures are particularly well known for their fine tetsubin. They are also known for iron kyusu-style Japanese teapots.