Shiru Donabe

About Shiru Donabe

Handcrafted in Japan by Nagatani-en, a renowned maker of Iga-yaki pottery since 1832, this Miso-shiru Nabe, or miso soup donabe, features an extra-thick clay body designed to retain exceptional heat. Even after it’s removed from the flame, the donabe continues to gently cook its contents, preserving warmth and depth of flavor.

Versatile and beautiful, it’s also suitable for dry-heating, allowing you to stir-fry or roast vegetables directly in the vessel without liquid. At the table, it doubles as an elegant serving pot, perfect for rice, miso soup, or slow-simmered stews intended to be shared and savored.

Each donabe is made entirely by hand, a process that takes nearly two weeks. Natural variations in clay and glaze make every piece unique. Over time, subtle changes in tone and patina emerge as a quiet record of meals shared and the vessel’s ongoing life in the kitchen.

Made from a porous prehistoric clay sourced from Japan's largest and oldest lake, Lake Biwa. The clay contains thousands of microscopic prehistoric fossils that are then baked into the clay when the pot is fired inside the kiln, which act as pockets that captures and retains heat better than other cooking vessels. Originating in Iga, Mie Prefecture, Iga-yaki pottery traces its heritage to the late 7th century, known for its porous clay and enduring heat retention — qualities that define the timeless beauty and function of this piece.