Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-01
SAkI AND SAKI BOTTLES.
Interesting Facts About the Famou:
National Drink of Japan.

Sdkl. or rice Dranuy, is made every
where in Japan; it is distilled from rice
and somewhat resembles the Chinese
samshu 1t looks like the weakest sherry
and. as it is usually heated before being
drunk, 1t has an exceedingly fiat and I'M
pleasant taste to one who is not accus-
toned to it.
1t seems very mild and inoffensive but
| there is plenty of alcohol in it. Although
the japanese apparently drink but little
on account of the small size of their por-
celan and lacquer cups, they manage by
frequent reflling to imbibe pints.
The coolies are not Quarrelsome when
they have had too much: it seems only to
| make them lighthearted and timber
tongued and their faces and bodies be-
come a flaming red.
| Wherever one goes in the Island Empire
! one may find siki stands or booths the
usual sign being pyramid of stlaw-cov-
| cred Saki tubs
Curiously enough it is liquor that does
not improve with age; the newly made is
the best. 1t is kept in wooden tubs closed
with .spigots and drawn off into open
mouthed porcelain or glass bottles.
| In making and decoration of these bot
ties and jugs the japanese artist expends
great lng erHcy ar and h skill The n 5ot'lH
| always set on little dias of blackwo"d
| or other material
Some of the bottles are grotesque in
shane and decoration, done with whim-
scaliIy that is amusing. A bottle and
cup made by native artist have for their
motive a monkey and seitshcll. The
/
piece OF wood, cryptomeria, with great
fidelity to nature: every feature is per
feet to the last detail. and the absurd art
| list fitted this grOtcsque creature with Il
pink tinted scashell for a cup.
| The imperial salli cups used by the
Emperor al his japanese bnIlqucts are fne
| eggShell porcelain. decorated with the six
tetn-.etalrd chrysanthemums and broken
| diaper patterns in gold
| In olden times the guests were allowed
| to take these home with them as SouVc-
Mrs Of the occasion.
At the native feasts or dinners the
drinking of Saki is accompanied by an
astonishing elaboration of ceremony. one
of the ACCOMPLISHMENTS of the daughter
passing the saki cups. This Is. OF course
when there are no gtisnas present; in that
| case the duty deVolVeS upon them Inc
| ccisha's attraction lies far more in her
manner of telling stories and offering deli
| cate attentions at table than IN her
| dancing
| Osaka rice. and the tourist is told that
| the best geishas, that is the most &C
complished ones, live in that quaint. old
| time capital.
Great quantities Of saki are drunk at
wedding feasts. The bride and bride
| groom drink, or seem to drink. hut 90
not in reality three times out OF tach OF
three wine cups of different sizes. making
nine drinks in all. Then two-spouted
cup Of salli is presented To the pride ana
bridegroom alternately. This drinking
from one cup symhoIizes tbs. sharing of
all things by the newly married couple
The japanese New Year is a time when
everybody drinks saki. 1t is heated in
silver or pewter jug upon which are en-
graved the japanese characters Una!
| stand for happiness. long life and many
children. This bottle or jug. like the
wedding bottle, is kept for the special oc-
cason for which it is intended
| Curious lacquer dipperS are used lot
dipping the saki from the tuD INTO the
bottle: one specimen might hold a small
teacup full, while another, the half of a
| gourd cut lOngitudinally and laCquered
holds just saki cup full.
When the coolie leaves his home ana
| goes abroad, far near. he always car
rics saki gourd and cup These gourds
large; the little drinking cup of lacquer
| or porcelain is tied with a SILK cora
| around the small part of the Eoird IN
the same manner as he carries ms pipe
| and pincaSe.
There. is a great variety of saki cups,
as there is of teacups. set commonly
seen in the shops consists of seven. "acl
one being decorated with the figure OF
one of the seven gods of luck.
The cups are used with variety OF
saucers. none of them, however. being OF
the same material as the cup. lheE are
holders rather than sauc"rS. and are made
of metal of wood. fluted. carved or plain.
and of bamboo woven into shapes OF great
durability and beauty.
| Some of these used in Oidnn times are
woven closely like the Indian baskets.
and will hold water One fine specimen is
| a cup with a cover as well as hoincr'
The tiny porcelain cup was set INSIDE tne
woven one and closely covered; thus the
| warm saki would keep of the right tenn
| nnrat,,re for a long time These bamboo
| holders are rarely seen new except IN
some old family that has been able to
hold it's household treasures intact.