An irori (fireplace) is typically a heating tool used mainly in the houses of farmers. A square or rectangle opening is cut in the floor where ash, firewood and coal are placed to heat up the room.
In family homes, Irori is placed in the center of the room where it is used for cooking, lighting, drying clothes, and even helps to ensure the durability of the house.
The pole which hangs from the ceiling is called jizaikagi, or pothook. Cooking involves placing a pot at the end of the pole which allows you to cook soups, boil water and make different boiled dishes. Fish is also put upon skewers which are inserted into the ash, then cooked by the fire.
Irori can also take the place of the modern day dryer. When clothes get wet in the rain, they can be placed around the fire to dry.
Probably the most unexpected role of the irori is that of improving the durability of the house. During old times, people used to live mainly in wooden houses. The heat that would come out of fireplace and into the surrounding atmosphere would draw the moisture out of the wood, which would help keep the wood from rotting and also helped to keep bugs out.