A set of a tokkuri (sake flask) and guinomi painted with red and white plum blossoms.

“Ninsei of Kyoto, Utsutsugawa of the West”
“Ninsei of Kyoto, Utsutsugawa of the West.” Utsutsugawa ware, known as a phantom ware, had long been without a successor since the end of the Edo period. The 12th-generation Yokoishi Gagyu set out to revive the traditional technique called hakeme (brush-stroke), worked across a dark brown porcelain surface with an atmosphere all its own, and through his efforts the ware was brought back to life.

Sea and Grassland in Hakeme
The feeling of a vast sea or grassland drawn in hakeme — the hallmark of Utsutsugawa ware, designated an Intangible Cultural Property of Nagasaki Prefecture — is beautifully expressed in this Japanese sake set, where red and white plum blossoms are in full bloom.

Why a Paulownia Box
Paulownia wood is light, resists moisture and insects, and moves with changes in humidity — which is why it has been used in Japan for centuries to store what is valuable. A piece delivered in a paulownia box arrives ready to give, and the box itself is part of the gift.

Contents and Dimensions
Tokkuri (sake flask) × 1, Sake cup × 2, paulownia box, booklet.
Tokkuri: / Height: 11cm / Diameter: 6.5cm / Weight: 170g / Sake cup: / Height: 4.2cm / Diameter: 5.5cm / Weight: 40g
As each piece is handmade, slight variations in size may occur.