Tokuri (sake flask)

The tokuri (also pronounced tokkuri) is a vessel for serving sake, made mainly of ceramic or porcelain. It is characterized by a narrow neck and a rounded body. It typically holds 1 to 2 go (a traditional unit of about 180 ml each) of sake, a capacity suited to pouring into small ochoko cups a little at a time. Because it can be placed directly into boiling water to warm the sake, it is also often used for warming sake in a hot water bath. The tokuri is regarded as a vessel that plays an important role in bringing out the flavor of sake, and it has become an indispensable part of Japanese food culture.