A woodwork artisan in the Hokkaido city of Hakodate has carved out a niche in the stove market, reviving interest in old-fashioned cast-iron potbelly heaters.
Ryuichi Uenoyama, 51, admits to being taken aback by the flurry of orders he has received for the stoves, which were first developed in the late 19th century, despite the high price tag.
"It was totally unexpected," he said.