Table Setting #46
Celebrating the New Year with Family

In Japan, there is a custom of eating "Ozoni(soup dish which contains rice cakes and vegetables)" on New Year's Day. The gorgeous soup bowls, one for each person, are set up to enhance the feeling of a happy new year. Underneath the bowls is a flat plate with a gorgeous gold pattern by Hibino Ceramic. The use of gold and black colors creates a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere.

For the children, I chose soup bowls also made of Aizu lacquerware. The illustrations of cute chicks, painted one by one by craftsmen, are very adorable and make a perfect gift. The rim that attaches to the mouth is thin and the bottom is thick, making it easy to drink soup and hard to feel the heat when you hold it in your hand.

Sake is a must for the New Year. I chose a set of sake cups with the auspicious motif of pine, bamboo, and plum. It is perfect for everyday use, but also for a bright table setting.

In the center of the table is a long plate made by "Kumiko", a Japanese technique of assembling wooden pieces without the use of nails. On top of the plate, there are sake cups with a traditional Aizu lacquerware design. It is also a wonderful idea to put Japanese sweets on them. The red color of Aizu lacquerware is very deep and has a mysterious charm.

This beautiful single-flower vase with subdued colors of gold and green is just the right size to display on a dining table. It has a small mouth which is easy to arrange flowers even for beginners. Of course, the vase is also wonderful to display by itself.

For hot sake, I chose Seigado's Chirori sake warmer. This copper sake warmer is very convenient because it can be placed directly on an open flame. The Chirori is made of pure tin, so it won't ruin the aroma of the sake.