Three Iwami Blue Momigara tokkuri sake flasks in a pale blue-grey crackle glaze with thumb-pressed dimples, on an oak table

Sake Pourers

Sharing sake in Japan is a small ritual: you pour for your companions, and they pour for you. It can seem too involved, but once you get used to it, it can bring a feeling of companionship and mutual respect.

Most pourers hold one to two gō (about 180–360ml), enough for two or three small cups each. See our guide to traditional Japanese sake measures for how the sizes work. If you're putting together a set, our guide to matching or mixing sake sets may help. Many of the pourers have matching cups available, but there is nothing stopping you mixing things up.

Of course, you can also use our pourers for other things: vases, dressing jars, milk jugs, anything you can think of! Most of them are dishwasher-safe, but please check the individual product care instructions.

Our pourers fall into four broad styles:

Tokkuri (徳利): the classic bottle-shaped flask with a narrow neck. It keeps sake warm and can be stood in hot water to gently warm it.
Katakuchi (片口): an open bowl with a single lip spout. It's easy to fill and clean, ideal for chilled sake, and lets the sake breathe.
Chōshi (銚子): originally a long-handled vessel for formal and ceremonial pouring. Today the name is often used loosely for any sake flask.
Chūki (注器): a closed or lidded pourer with a tube spout, a little like a small teapot.