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Description
Bring the four seasons of Japan into your home with this unique set of sake cups.
The designs on the four distinct "hirasakazuki" sake cups appear and change color when a cold beverage is poured in.
These are the original color-changing sake cups made by Marumo Tagaki in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
The designs appear at temperatures below 17°C and disappear at room temperature.
Delight your guests with cold Japanese sake poured into these magical Shun Japan sake cups.
Information
| Manufacturer | MARUMO TAKAGI |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Gifu Prefecture, Japan |
| Technique | Mino Wares |
| Material | Ceramics |
| Size | W3.54 * D3.54 * H1.34 in.(W9 * D9 * H3.4 cmcm) |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs(180g) |
| Capacity | 2.37 oz(70ml) |
| Electronic Equipment | Microwave oven : X Dishwashing machine : X Direct fire : X IH : X Oven : X, |
| Note | To prevent color fading, do not expose to direct sunlight for a long time. Do not use scrubbers or abrasives. |
| Delivery Time | 1-2 weeks (if out of stock + 1-2 weeks) |
Brand
ADDING NEW IDEAS TO CERAMICS
MARUMO TAKAGI
- Established in 1887 in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture
- Dish supplier to Japanese embassies and restaurants around the world
- Known for its innovations with color-changing designs
Offering Outstanding Japanese Ceramics for More Than 130 Years
Marumo Takagi started selling ceramic sake cups under the name "Marui Shoten" in 1887. Pottery has been produced in this area of southern Gifu prefecture for about 1,300 years. Mino, the area that encompasses Tajimi and neighboring Toki, is known in Japan as “Ceramic Valley,” and the traditional “Mino ware” produced by craftsmen there is officially registered as a Traditional Japanese Craft by the Japanese government. There are even two craftsmen in the region who are designated Living National Treasures!
Recently, Masaharu Takagi, the company’s fifth president, has been promoting Japanese pottery around the world. The company sells much of its dishware to restaurants, chefs, and even Japanese embassies around the globe! It specializes in making custom designs to suit the needs of its customers.
One of Marumo Takagi’s president’s more modern ideas came when he imagined the possibilities that could be created if pottery itself could visually express the temperature of the drink or food inside of it. Since much of Japanese food and drink is served at just the right temperature, eating or drinking it right away is important.
This led to the creation of the color-changing Warm and Cool series cups that feature scenes of Japan’s iconic four seasons.
Cherry Blossoms and Fireworks Appear
The point that the company was most concerned about and struggled with was coloration. The color of the Cool series changes when the temperature is below 17°C and the Warm series when the temperature is above 45°C. To get the color to change, special paints are mixed and fired in a special kiln.
When creating each new design, prototypes are fired over and over again until the perfect color change is achieved. Whether enjoying a cold beverage in one of the Cool series cups or a hot beverage in the Warm series cups, the beautiful color change adds an extra element to the presentation that delights people of all ages.
Japanese Culture Makes Dining Fun
The history of Japanese pottery began as far back as 15,000 years ago with Jomon pottery. Throughout its history, pottery has evolved into various shapes, sizes and colors depending on its use. Marumo Takagi was able to create a new innovation in Japanese pottery with their products.
Pour in your favorite drink and enjoy the beautiful transformation that will remind you of Japan and its four seasons.
Achievements
1990 Tableware presented to the Imperial household for the coronation of the new Emperor
2020 New design-changing glasses introduced
How Japanese Products Can Be Such High Quality
The Reason Japan Can Produce So Many High-Quality Products
To put it simply, it’s because they found a way to produce exceptional products with high efficiency, resulting in surprisingly low prices.
The Japanese Drive for Perfection
The Japanese always seek perfection in both the production process and the products themselves.
As such, the Japanese production process aims to eliminate waste and inefficiencies while guaranteeing quality by having craftspeople inspect their own products and constantly strive to make improvements.
Ingenuity Stemming from the Spirit of “Omotenashi” and “Kikubari”
The Japanese excel at creating and improving things because of their devotion to the ideas of hospitality and attentiveness, known as “omotenashi” and “kikubari” respectively. These ideas push them to uncover, predict, and fulfill their customers’ every need.
This earnestness, as well as how they spare no effort when it comes to offering their customers the very best, is reflected in the products Japan produces.
Trustworthy Suppliers That Deliver On All Fronts
One product is often the result of various organizations joining forces and combining their skills and capabilities.
Japanese suppliers are known for their dedication to delivering high-quality materials, parts, and products on schedule, and it’s thanks to their efforts that Japan can produce such high-quality goods.
The Japanese Are the World’s Most Discerning and Demanding Customers
Many Japanese people have traveled and experienced shopping around the world. This has given them a much more discerning eye for judging the quality of products.
The standards of Japanese people are very high. They are finely tuned not just to the quality, safety, design, and novelty of products, but also to their visual appearance such as their packaging and wrapping.
Made-in-Japan products keep improving in quality in order to meet the rigorous standards of their domestic clientele.
Japan Is Home to Many Long-Established Companies
According to an international survey, Japan has the highest number of companies that have been established over a century ago. In fact, the grand total of 33,076 of such Japanese companies accounts for 41.3% of the total worldwide number of 80,066. The US takes second place with 19,497 companies (24.4%) and Sweden comes in third with 13,997 (17.5%).
Japan also has the highest number of companies that are more than two centuries old, being home to 1,340 such companies, which account for 65.0% of the global total of 2,051. The US takes second place with 239 companies (11.6%), Germany comes in third with 201 (9.8%), and the UK places fourth with 83 (4.0%).
So, Japan is able to produce so many high-quality goods because it’s home to the highest number of long-established companies that have been passing down their knowledge and technical prowess through the generations.
*Source: Based on data from Teikoku Databank and Bureau Van Dijk’s orbis (as of October 2019).
What Makes Traditional Japanese Crafts High Quality
Traditional crafts are the amalgamation of Japanese culture.
“Traditional crafts” is the general term used for crafts that are produced using processes and techniques that have been passed down through generations. In Japan, this includes textiles, dyed goods, ceramics, lacquerware, woodwork, washi Japanese paper, dolls, items for Buddhist rituals, and other goods that enrich our everyday lives.
Traditional crafts are associated with the concept of “the beauty of use”, which refers to products and skills that become easier to use and approach perfection the longer they come into contact with people.
Currently, it is believed that there are approximately 1,300 different types of traditional crafts in Japan.
Among these, 236 crafts have been officially designated as “traditional Japanese crafts” by the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (as of January 2021).
The main criteria for being recognized as a traditional Japanese craft:
Key Parts of the Production Process Must Be Done by Hand
Traditional Japanese crafts do not have to be entirely handmade, but the underlying process that brings out the product’s unique and distinctive characteristics, such as their quality, form, and design, must be handcrafted.
This guarantees that every traditional Japanese craft is, at its core, a product of human hands, meaning that its size and shape have been designed with human comfort in mind. It also makes the crafts much safer.
The Skills and Techniques Used to Make It Must Be Passed Down for Over 100 Years
The Japanese believe that a technique or a skill can only be considered reliable and complete after it’s been refined through trial and error and constant improvements by numerous craftspeople over a period of at least 100 years.
Skills are closely related to the capability of each craftsperson and precision, and they are something that an individual can refine. Techniques, on the other hand, are associated with the historical accumulation of knowledge, including everything from the selection of raw materials to the production process.
All this said, modern craftspeople don’t just mimic the techniques of the past. Rather, they’re continuously coming up with improvements and developing new ways of doing things without fundamentally changing what makes traditional Japanese crafts unique.
The Skills and Techniques Used to Make It Must Be Passed Down for Over 100 Years
As we can see, the secret to the high quality of made-in-Japan products is the drive of Japanese people for perfection, the adherence to their unique philosophy of hospitality, and their discerning eye that can’t be matched.
Traditional Japanese crafts are one level above normal made-in-Japan products, as they must also meet rigorous criteria such as being handcrafted or made using skills and techniques that have been passed down for at least a century.
Thanks to all of the above, Japanese products have become famous for their high quality all over the world.