Photo: PR Times
new products

One-of-a-kind stainless steel sake cup has rippling design inspired by sake brewing

4 Comments
By Ben K, grape Japan

During the sake brewing process, drops of sake trickle down from the mash one by one, spreading ripples on the surface of the container beneath it. Such was the inspiration for a one-of-a-kind sake cup and saucer called shitatari (written 滴り), or "trickle."

Produced by the Harebi Project from Nakagawa Iron Works, which has a history of more than 100 years at its Osaka factory, shitatari is made from stainless steel. After repeated attempts, product designer Kosuke Suzuki used the company's expertise in thin-walled steel shaping to pare down the wall of the cup incredibly thinly near the edge, allowing the drinker to come into contact with sake as intimately as possible. The stem of the cup, which rests perfectly in a depression at the center of the saucer, traces an elegant line, symbolizing the tapered end of the mash bag from whence the precious nectar trickles down.

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Photo: PR Times

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Photo: PR Times

Combined with the trickle and ripple design of the saucer beneath it, they make a harmonious pairing, the two parts completely synchronized in the evocation of the shitatari concept.

You can have a name engraved in the base of the saucer as an option.

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Photo: PR Times

A wonderful gift in a set of two for a special occasion such as a wedding or an anniversary, or just singly for that special person in your life who enjoys drinking sake, shitatari makes a unique addition to your home which will surely be appreciated.

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Photo: PR Times

Shitatari costs 26,000 yen + tax for one, or 48,000 yen + tax for a pair.

To find out more, and to place your order online, visit the official website here.

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© grape Japan

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4 Comments
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If I didn't know any better about the Japanese language I'd think that cup and saucer set has a name that curses atari games.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It looks like a beautiful case of mercury poisoning.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Drinking saki is an artform I have about 6 different sets I use on a regular basis for different reasons. not that it changes the flavor (unless you use a squid carafe) but it can reflect the mood or even the lighting/location which I think enhances the experience of the saki. To me it looks like a piece that would be nice to use in the evening outside in a japanese stone garden. I couldn't see myself using it after finishing work or when taking a hot bath etc

1 ( +1 / -0 )

One could wonder about setting the cup accurately back into the saucer as a sobriety test.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

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