Fumito Abe - BlackUrushi Guinomi (Sake Cup)

⚠ Testing Notice
This product is currently undergoing FDA and California Proposition 65 compliance testing. We will update this listing once testing is complete.

Please note: Each piece is entirely hand-formed. Dimensions, shape, and surface texture will vary between individual pieces.

Crafted by Fumito Abe of Kamoshika Kiln in Ajigasawa, Aomori, this guinomi (sake cup) is formed from raw clay body saturated with kuro-urushi — a black urushi lacquer enriched with iron — and then fired at high temperature. The result is a black unlike any glaze or pigment: not a single flat color, but a living surface where charcoal, deep brown, and subtle metallic glints coexist within the same depth of black.

Small enough to cradle in one hand, a guinomi is the most intimate of sake vessels. Where a katakuchi pours, a guinomi receives. It asks you to slow down — to hold something carefully, to drink with attention. This one, in particular, earns that attention.

Because each piece is hand-formed and individually fired, no two are identical. Slight variations in shape, surface texture, and tone are not imperfections — they are the record of the maker's hands and the kiln's fire.

What is a Guinomi?
A guinomi (ぐい飲み) is a traditional Japanese sake cup, slightly larger than the delicate ochoko, sized to be held in the palm and drunk in a few deliberate sips. The name itself suggests the act: gui (ぐい) — a quick, satisfying pull. In Japanese craft culture, the guinomi is considered one of the most personal of vessels: chosen with care, used daily, and often kept for a lifetime.

Dimensions：Approx. H 7cm × W 5.5cm
Material：Stoneware clay + urushi lacquer
Care：Hand wash only. Do not soak. Do not use in microwave or dishwasher.