Masuya Masu Sake Cup Year of the Tiger 2022 2

The cups can also be used to serve deserts, snacks, spices, bath salt, a gift box, or as a base for table pieces and DIY crafts!
Masu cups have played an important part in Japanese traditions for over 1300 years. The small square cups made of Hinoki wood were originally used to measure rice and other food items, especially when they were still a trading currency. The term ???masu??? means ???growth??? in Japanese, and thus these cups became an important symbol for growth, success and prosperity. The cups became popular sake cups during weddings and traditional celebrations, and farmers use the masu cups to serve beans on the day before spring, to pray for a successful harvest.

Hinoki trees are not only beautiful, but also believed to have a cleansing and purifying effect; The wood has a long-lasting, calming fragrance, antibacterial and stress-relieving properties and even suppresses the formation of mould, bacteria and mite. It is therefore a popular material for construction and in sushi kitchens. Masu cups are crafted from the left-overs of these constructions - no wood is cut for their production alone.

MASUYA was established in 1950 and has been making high-quality masu cups for over 60 years. Next to traditional masu cups, they also have a wide range of other Hinoki products, including a unique, ecological humidifier, drinking sets, and even customizable cups.