Originally, the masu cups were small square wooden boxes used in Japan during the Middle Ages to measure rice portions.
Clever, most masu are made from hinoki or cedar wood, which have natural antibacterial properties to keep food and drink fresh.
Today, masu without a lid and traditionally used to drink sake on special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or weddings. The wooden masu cup would complement the traditionally brewed sake, as it is brewed in wooden barrels. They also carry a woody, pure scent as an extra and can be used as a container for the short glass or just as a cup.
On most occasions with sake, a sake glass is placed in the masu cup, over which the host will pour sake until it flows into the masu like a waterfall. Overflowing is an act of kindness and generosity on the part of the host to show his appreciation for your friendship.
The standard size of a masu is "1go" = 180ml/gr.
1 masu was enough to feed a person for a day.
Japanese kanji means Imayotsukasa, one of our suppliers is in Niigata.
