Made from titanium using a patented technique, the special containers were announced by metal manufacturing experts Takakuwa Industrial Products and exhibited at the Lifestyle Sōgō Expo on 4 July.
The products were developed to capitalise on the keywords sake and “craftsman” in the build up to 2020. Along with a load of over-the-top marketing text, the company also claims that the cup provides a new shape for drinking from, although Sankei Biz describes the vessels as a guinomi cup, which is a pretty common vessel shape, and a katakuchi lipped bowl. The two stack neatly on top of each other.
Some are plain titanium, while others are lacquered in partnership with Fukushima company Aizunuri – part of the proceeds from these products will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society to support recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
- Guinomi: 70 mm diameter x 50 mm high, weight 65 g, capacity around 37 ml, JPY 18,500
- Katakuchi: 100 mm diameter x 85 mm high, weight 90 g, capacity around 300 ml, JPY 34,000
The vessels won the Ōta Superlative Technique Award in the Ōta Ward Small and Medium Enterprise New Product and Technology Competition.
Links
- Original article (Japanese, Sankei Biz, 20 June 2018) Includes photos of the plain and laquered products
- Takakuwa Hitohira-Shibori page (Japanese, with an image gallery)
- Aizunuri (Japanese)