Introducing sake cups supervised by Kazuhiko Ota from the ceramic brand 'zen to'.

zen to

The romance of Hizen, unchanged in its pale blues and red accents.

Hasami Town in Nagasaki Prefecture is known as one of Japan's leading pottery production areas. The new brand 'zen to', born here, has released a variety of curry plates since its launch in 2020. This spring, they are introducing 'sake cups'. We delve into these vessels designed to 'enjoy the aroma and taste of sake'.

Text by WAKABAYASHI Satsuki

Since their debut in 2020, 'zen to' has garnered attention for its diverse curry plates. This spring, a new series of 'sake cups' will be released. For the first installment, they have collaborated with Kazuhiko Ota, an art director and author known for his numerous books on sake and his visits to izakayas across Japan, to create a collection of cups for 'drinking beautifully'.

The 'Hōrai Cup' comes in shallow and deep versions. The shallow cup is ideal for appreciating the aroma and the elegant motion of drinking, while the deep cup allows for savoring the flavor. Both feature the mythical Mount Hōrai, said to be inhabited by immortals and a land of eternal youth, depicted in indigo blue underglaze. The 'Couple's Cups' express a pair of carp swimming together, meant for couples to share. They are perfect for toasting each other during evening drinks. Crafted from porcelain, considered ideal for drinking sake beautifully and deliciously, these cups will bring a touch of happiness to your home. They also make excellent gifts, presented in a wooden box.