niwakamado 庭竃

1　A new cooking range *kamado 竃, or open hearth *irori 囲炉裏, temporarily set up in the earth floored area *doma 土間, of vernacular houses *minka 民家, from the first to the third of January as part of the New Year, Shōgatsu 正月, festivities. Reed matting, mushiro 筵, was spread around the niwakamado for guests and family members to sit on.

2　The term also refers to the New Year's feast itself. The custom is believed to have been very wide spread, but was particularly prevalent in the vicinity of Nara in the Edo period. Also called niwa irori 庭囲炉裏.