Masu Cypress Square Beer Mug

Back in the Edo period and until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 that brought Japan into the modern age, rice was measured by wooden boxes called masu that were 8.5 x 8.5 x 5.2 cm (3.3 x 3.3 x 2") and could hold one "go" (about 150 g / 5.3 oz). Nowadays, rices is measured by kilos but the masu got a second life as a drinking vessel, particularly for sake in old-school izakaya taverns. But since the most popular drink in Japan is now beer, Ohashi Riki, a company in Gifu Prefecture that makes masu, thought it would be a good idea to come up with a special version for beer. And so the Masu Cypress Square Beer Mug was born!

Made of hinoki like the regular masu but coated with urethane resin to make it water-repellent, the Masu Cypress Square Beer Mug is big enough (76 x 76 x 137 mm / 3 x 3 x 5.4") to hold 450 ml (15.2 fl oz) of your favorite beer, served frosty and frothy, and thanks to the hinoki, without any condensation on the outside. And it isn't just for beer: being heat-resistant for up to 90°C (194°F), this beautiful mug can also hold your coffee or tea, allowing you to enjoy a beverage in a more traditional Japanese way than your usual ceramic mug!

Specs and Features:

• No condensation on outside
• Can be used for hot or cold beverages
• Individually made by traditional masu artisans in Gifu Prefecture
• Heat resistance: max. 90°C (194°F)
• Dimensions: 76 x 76 x 137mm (3 x 3 x 5.4")
• Capacity: 450 ml (15.2 fl oz)
• Material: Japanese hinoki cypress wood
• Coating: water-repellent urethane resin