Hand Cut Shichirin (Square 17cm)

Hand Cut 17cm square shichirin, cut from a solid block of diatomaceous earth.

Dimensions: W170 × D170 × H150mm

Shichirin (七輪) are traditional Japanese portable grills used for cooking food at the table, or outside. They are sometimes also referred to as 'hibachi' or 'konro' outside of Japan. Our shichirin are not made from compressed off-cuts or laminated blocks, but are hand cut, shaped and fired from diatomaceous earth ('keisodo') in the Noto Peninsula of Japan. Only three families still make them like this.

The diatomaceous earth deposits of Noto Peninsula are roughly 12 million years old. It is a soft, sedimentary siliceous rock formed by the fossilized remains of diatoms, or phytoplankton - microscopic organisms that live in the upper layer of the ocean. This makes the shichirin porous and light, with excellent insulating properties to retain heat for long periods of time with very little charcoal.

The best charcoal to use is Kishu binchōtan from Japan, which keeps a constant heat for up to five hours, complimenting the shichirin's insulating properties. We also sell binchōtan by weight for use with shichirin, or you can use other charcoal if cooking outside.

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NOTO NENSHOUKI is a fourth-generation family business who, in its first generation, took over the manufacturing of traditional shichirin at an existing diatomaceous earth mine, outside the city of Suzu in the Noto Peninsula. The family continues to make the stoves by hand according to the traditional methods. This involves cutting blocks of diatomaceous earth by hand, then shaping the stoves once the blocks have begun to dry, firing them for at least 40 hours at 800°C, after which the shichirin are painted and strengthened with brass plates. A team of approximately seven people are involved in the business and the current President is Shinichi Funaba.

To see a Japanese-language video on this family and exactly how these shichirin are made, click here.