The natural beauty of bizenyaki augments the flavor of sake. Whether you decide to drink the sake cold or hot, it will taste even better by drinking it out of Bizenyaki. Each tokkuri (decanter) and chokko (cup) is one of a kind, made exclusively by one of Bizen’s famous potter families, who have been creating these artful and functional pieces for over a hundred years.
Bizenyaki earthenware is made from clay that has been cut from the hills of Bizen City. Whether you choose to use the cups to drink sake, tea, coffee or beer, you will immediately notice the difference and may find it hard to return to normal cups and glasses again.
Of course there are various forms of yakimono or kiln baked pottery throughout Japan. There is even another in Okayama called Ushimadoyaki. What separates the varieties is the clay they are made from. The area the clay comes from becomes part of the pottery’s namesake. In the case of Bizen, the clay is a reddish brown color and when it is fired it becomes a deeper brown with accents determined by the potter.
There are parallels between bizenyaki and sake production. Sake like bizenyaki is a crafted product that often comes from a family business. Family breweries still exist in Japan much in the way bizenyaki originates from family kilns that are passed from generation to generation. Producers take pride in the history of their family brand and the area where their business is located.
Good sake often comes in wooden boxes so I figured, “let’s put them together”. I had this box made to complete the set. It consists of two cups, a decanter and a bottle of sake. Of course the best thing would be to go out and explore Bizen City and Kurashiki City and find these items yourself but you can get the set from our online shop delivered to your door anywhere in the world.
When you finish the sake you’ll have a reusable bottle and a wooden box for odds and ends. Of course the bizenyaki will provide you with endless enjoyment of each bottle of sake you drink.
