Nabeshima celadon sake cup

Taking Time over a Small Cup

Imari, in Saga Prefecture, is one of Japan’s historic centres of ceramic production. Within this region, Okawachiyama developed as the home of the Nabeshima domain’s kilns, making refined vessels for presentation to the shogun’s household. Its ceramic culture grew around close attention to materials, shape and the smallest details of a finished piece.

Nabeshima Kosen Kiln continues this tradition in Okawachiyama, creating vessels for contemporary life. Its celadon is rooted in the natural mineral resources of the surrounding area. The blue-green glaze offers a way to appreciate the region through colour: a quiet surface whose depth becomes more noticeable as light moves across it.

An ochoko is a small Japanese sake cup. Its scale encourages modest pours, making it easy to return attention to the drink, a dish of food, or the person across the table. Here, the celadon glaze becomes part of that close, personal view.

The cup holds approximately 30 ml at a practical serving level, or around 50 ml when filled to the rim. The smooth-glazed version keeps the surface simple, giving the blue-green colour and its reflected light the space to be noticed.

A small pour makes room to appreciate the vessel as well as the sake. Turn the cup in your hand, notice the light on the glaze, and return to the food or conversation beside you. Paired with the matching carafe, it gives a shared meal a simple, considered rhythm.