Iwachu hira-rokkaku cast iron kyusu

This Iwachu kyusu (teapot) is 7" wide, not including the spout, 9.5" wide including spout, 3.5" on each side, 3" high and weighs 3 lbs 5 ounces. It has the Iwachu "Reiwa" mark and "MADE IN JAPAN" on the bottom. The handle is solid and flat on the sides which I have not seen before. The only mention I found of this kyusu was in a 2007 Iwachu catalog described as hira-rokkaku (flat-hexagonal). It was an apparently short lived design.

I could not find another like it after an extensive search, and it was pretty inexpensive, so I went over my January budget a little bit to purchase it. At first I thought it might be a new design, based on its scarcity. Iwachu is constantly innovating and has a broad range of products and designs, but I have not found a good source, for example a catalog, which shows everything that they make.

This teapot is a bit rough as it has not been well cared for and I have done nothing to it, yet. I will try to clean it up a bit and use it. I think the outside finish is enamel which may limit what I can do to clean it up. It is rusty in a few places, the finish on the handle is chipped and the handle is a bit sprung so that it easily flops from side to side. Typically the handles on Iwachu pots don't move freely and must be intentionally moved. I think popping it off and tapping it a bit with a plastic mallet will close it back up to attain the correct tension. The interior seems to be in perfect condition.

For some reason, the infuser is often missing from used Iwachu kyusu and I am still trying to figure out a good source for replacements and how to determine the correct size to order. This is especially upsetting for older teapots which originally came with a solid aluminum basket, not a mesh as is common today.