Sake Items - Kutani ware

Sakazuki

The word "Sakazuki" is a general term for a cup used for drinking sake, but it most often indicates a flat, plate-like shape. It is the most ancient style, and the way people hold the sides and bottom of the cup with both hands symbolizes the Japanese sake culture.
Usually, the Sakuzaki contains only a few sips within it. The wonderfully decorated ones are beautiful to look at and there are many collectors.
If you use a wonderful Sakazuki when you get a special sake, celebrate a special occasion, or invite guests, it will be unforgettable moment.

Ochoko

Ochoko is a relatively small sake cup. It usually has a larger capacity than a Sakazuki and can contains 2-3 sips. Ochoko was originally used as a small Kobachi bowl to hold Sunomono, etc., but it is said that it began to be used at sake parties in the middle of the Edo period. People started drinking with Sakazuki, and then switched to Ochoko as the mood grew.
There is no clear definition of the material or shape of Ochoko, and there are many different types. Most of the sake cups included in sake sets are classified as ochoko.

Guinomi

Usually the size of Guinomi is slightly smaller than teacups, so it is a larger cup for sake. It is common that people pour sake directly from the bottle into the Guinomi instead of using a Carafe.
Originally, Guinomi was a tableware used to hold delicacies during Japanese tea ceremonies. After eating the delicacies, people began to pour sake into it and drink it, which is believed to be the beginning of the Ginomi. Hence, Guinomi has a history of growing up with the tea culture. It incorporated the aesthetic sense of "Wabi-Sabi" and evolved into a tool for enjoying sake, rather than simply for drinking it.

Trumpet Shape

The trumpet-shaped cup looks like an inverted triangle. With a widely open lip of the cup, you can instantly feel the aroma as pouring Sake. The aroma can be enjoyed in the mouth for a long time, so sake with a lighter taste and higher aroma will be best enjoyed in this cup.

Bowl Shape

The bowl-shaped cup has a wide diameter like a trumpet shaped cup, so the sake spreads in your mouth. The bowl-shaped cup is well suitable to enjoy a richer flavor and a more subdued aroma. Unlike the trumpet type, it takes less time to reach the throat, so you can enjoy the taste more than the aroma.

Bud Shape

The bud-shaped cup has a small diameter and it is not easy to drink sake in one gulp. So it is perfect for drinking and enjoying the flavors little by little. You can also enjoy the aroma at the same time, as you are covering the cup with your nose when you drink it. This type of cup is suitable for enjoying sake with a strong taste and aroma.

Flat Shape

The most authentic sake cup shape. The wide frontage allows you to feel the aroma of sake well. As you can see, it can only hold a small amount of sake, making it ideal for those who want to enjoy sake slowly.

Tokkuri

The Tokkuri is a type of sake carafe with a thin neck and a bulging bottom, and is used to pour sake into a sake cup. It is shaped like a gourd. There are several theories about the origin of the word "Tokkuri," but it is said that the name comes from the sound it makes when sake is poured.
Today, sake is sold in bottles, but until the early Showa period (1920), liquor stores generally sold sake in Tokkuri.

Katakuchi

A sake carafe shaped like a bowl or tumbler with a single spout, often used for serving cold sake or sake with a pleasant aroma, such as fillet sake.
Some people enjoy floating flower petals in it on cherry blossom viewing days.
Another advantage is that the spout is wide open, making it easy to wash.

Basic Manners when pouring sake using a sake carafe. 

Hold the sake carafe in the center with your right hand and support it with your left hand. Be careful not to let the sake carafe touch the sake cup while pouring.
The amount to be poured should be no more than about 70-80% of the cup. It is considered bad manners to fill the entire cup.
A slight twist of the right wrist at the end of the pour will help prevent dripping. It is not good manners to use a "peeking" or "swinging" sake carafe to see what is inside, to collect the remaining sake in one sake carafe, or to tip over the sake carafe after drinking. It is also not polite to pour sake into other’s sake cup without asking.

Basic manners for having someone pour your sake.

When someone offer you to pour sake, the basic rule is to hold the sake cup with both hands. Hold the sake cup firmly with the thumb and index finger of your right hand and place your middle and ring fingers on the bottom of the cup as if to pinch it.
Use your left hand to support the bottom of the cup. It is considered proper etiquette to sip the remaining sake in the sake cup before accepting another one. After you accept it, take a sip first then place the sake cup on the table.