Sake Glasses and Cups: A Guide to Japanese Sake Vessels

Pour the same sake into three vessels: a small ceramic cup, a straight-sided glass and a wine glass. Then smell each one. The sake has not changed, yet the three pours may not seem the same. One might seem quieter, another brighter. This guide explains sake glasses and cups, from the ochoko and guinomi to the tokkuri, masu and kiki-choko tasting cup. It also covers what each vessel does and how shape and material can shift your impression. Finally, it shows how to choose without worrying about rules. TOCIs There a Correct Sake Cup? No single sake cup is correct. In fact, the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) says no strict rules link a vessel to a sake. Some pairings work better than others, though, and that is what this guide is about. Quick Facts: Sake Glasses and Cups General term酒器 (shuki), meaning sake vessels Drinking cupsOchoko, guinomi, sakazuki, masu, glasses Serving vesselsTokkuri, katakuchi Warming vesselChirori, usually metal Tasting cupKiki-choko: white porcelain with blue rings Common materialsCeramic, porcelain, glass, wood, lacquer, tin, copper Common small glassUp to about 110 ml for chilled sake Strict rules?None, according to JSS In short The cup doe...