釜

metal pot

Kanji 1950

Pots look lifeless, but 釜 is full of fun. It plays a great role in a folktale and has connections to necessities in life, plus car crashes, cross-dressing, and demons who boil people in cauldrons. It pops up in colorful place names. And of course this kanji has a culinary side, appearing in terms for "rice cooker," the names of rice and udon dishes, a salty fish dish, a way of making tea, and more. 

Revision history:

Oct. 13, 2023: p. 13: Clarified the explanation of the breakdown of 地獄の釜の蓋.

Feb. 24, 2022:

• p. 13: Added “toasted in a pot" as an initial definition of 釜煎り.
• p. 14: In the phrase “the manufacturer toasted barley tea,” I deleted "tea.” 

June 16, 2021: p. 20: Added a link to the Kanshudo games.

May 4, 2019: Originally published.