Sake Cups

A sakazuki is a sake cup that is in the shape of a saucer. They are, like the choko, made from ceramic and coated in enamel, but are usually only used during special occasions and ceremonies. They are very popular at weddings. A traditional show of generosity is to place a masu on a sakazuki and fill the masu until it overflows and fills the saucer as well.

The sake cup called the choko is a short cylindrical cup that holds just about as much volume as a shot glass. It is usually made of ceramic and then coated with enamel. Once they are fired, it provides a hard, glossy finish that is the most suitable way of imbibing sake, according to the Japanese government which has had a sake research institute running for over one hundred years. The enamel is often decoratively applied and paired with a serving flask called the tokkuri.

Sake cups, called masu, choko, or sakazuki depending on the type, are the traditional way to serve sake. The first cup used to serve sake were actually small wooden boxes called masu. They are a specific volume, and were originally used to measure rice. They are generally made from two types of Japanese trees, the hinoki or sugi. When ceramic and enamel coatings became the norm, masu had a short dip in popularity because of the belief that wood ruins the taste of a good sake. Tradition has brought the masu back into popularity.

Sake Cups

The sake cup called the choko is a short cylindrical cup that holds just about as much volume as a shot glass
japanese sake