History

Sacred Rituals, Sake, and Cups

With the advent of rice cultivation, the dietary habits of this era underwent significant changes. The pottery of this period was fired at high temperatures to be thin, hard, simple, and practical. Unglazed cups known as "kawarake" were used as sake vessels and came to play a crucial role in ceremonies and festivals. The relationship between sacred rituals, sake, and cups that began here continues to the present day.

Sake Cup

Sue ware, introduced from the Korean Peninsula during the Kofun period (around 500 AD), was valued for its impermeability and high practicality. Consequently, it came into everyday use during the Nara period. From this time onward, vessels for drinking sake began to be referred to as "tsuki" or "sakazuki."

Lacquerware Sake Cup

During the Heian period, the diversification of dietary habits led to an increase in the variety of tableware. Lacquerware, introduced from the continent, was highly valued among the court and aristocracy, and lacquered cups came into use as sake vessels. Additionally, within the court culture, exquisite ceramic cups also developed.

Diversity of Sake Cups

During the Kamakura period, Song dynasty pottery techniques were introduced, leading to the domestic production of high-quality ceramics such as celadon and white porcelain. Production centers like Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Tanba, Bizen, and Echigo, known as the Six Ancient Kilns, developed. In addition to the diversification of shapes and decorations, the unique techniques and designs of kilns in each region also evolved.

Origin of Guinomi

The tea ceremony culture reached its peak, leading to the creation of numerous beautiful ceramic and lacquerware sake vessels. While sake cups were used for drinking sake at the time, it is said that samurai found it cumbersome to use small sake cups during tea kaiseki, and thus began drinking sake from mukozuke (dishes/small bowls), which is considered the origin of the guinomi.

The tea ceremony culture reached its peak, leading to the creation of numerous beautiful ceramic and lacquerware sake vessels. While sake cups were still used for drinking at the time, samurai found it cumbersome to use small sake cups during tea kaiseki. They began drinking sake from mukozuke (dishes/small bowls), which is considered the origin of the guinomi. From this era, dishes and bowls were repurposed and used as "large and deep sake cups." These types of sake vessels came to be known as "guinomi" after the Meiji period.

[Early Edo Period]

Advancements in Sake Brewing and Changes in Sake Vessels

In the early Edo period, sake commonly consumed by the general populace was "doburoku," which had a low alcohol content. Consequently, larger vessels with a diameter of around 10 cm, known as mukozuke, began to be used as sake cups.

[Middle Edo Period]

During the mid to late Edo period, advancements in sake brewing techniques led to an increase in alcohol content, and "seishu," sake made by pressing the mash of "doburoku," began to be consumed.

[Late Edo Period]

As the flavor of sake became richer, vessels used during the mid-Edo period were about 7.5 cm in diameter, while those used in the late Edo period were choko with a diameter of about 4.5 cm. Additionally, the Edo period saw a revolutionary development in ceramics, leading to the widespread use of variously designed sake vessels among the common people.

Establishment of Guinomi

In the Meiji period, tea masters and entrepreneurs began collecting cups and choko used as sake vessels from various regions. Among these, the larger and deeper ones came to be known as "guinomi." Subsequently, in the Taisho period, Kitaoji Rosanjin is said to have established the style of guinomi that resembles miniature matcha bowls by incorporating the styles and techniques of matcha bowls.

The Turbulent Era of Sake

During and after the war, due to material shortages, sake production had to become industrialized, leading to an era of low-cost mass production that continued until the late Showa period. Consequently, the vessels used for drinking sake also changed to inexpensive cups and plastic masu. However, in the 1970s, the flourishing ginjo sake, which had been studied before the war, became popular, and the culture of enjoying high-quality sake in artisanal or antique sake vessels was revived.

The Chaotic Era of Sake Vessels

From around 2000, influenced by the remnants of the extravagant bubble period and a fascination with Western culture, the style of drinking ginjo sake from wine glasses emerged. As the trend in sake shifted towards fresher and lighter flavors, drinking sake from larger wine glasses became a popular choice, rather than the traditional guinomi or choko. This phenomenon is similar to the Edo period when richer flavors led to the use of smaller sake vessels.

New Era of Sake

Since around 2010, an increasing number of sake breweries have focused on 'agriculture,' 'tradition,' and 'regionality,' engaging in various activities. The sake brewed by these breweries, both culturally and in flavor, was not suited to wine glasses. Therefore, in 2022, a new sake vessel called 'Shuwan' was born.

SHUWAN was born as the standard sake vessel, setting the benchmark for a new era of Japanese sake and beginning to connect brewers with drinkers around the world.