Pour something chilled into this cup and the pattern wakes up. Flowers come into bloom; fireworks rise; carp begin to swim. The trick is heat: below about 16°C (61°F), a temperature-reactive finish reveals the artwork hidden beneath, and as the drink warms in your hand, the cup quietly resets. Madoromu—the Japanese word for that half-asleep state where time loosens—names the kind of evening this cup is built for.
The body is copper, plated inside and out with tin. Copper holds chilled drinks at temperature with the conductivity that lines old pastry kitchens. Tin has been prized in Japan for sake drinking for generations: tradition holds that water kept in a tin vessel does not spoil, and that sake poured into a tin cup loses its harsh notes and softens on the palate. Tsubame, the Niigata town where this cup is made, first worked copper centuries ago, before the broader Tsubame-Sanjo region became Japan's metalworking capital. Each piece is hand-finished, giving the metal a softness in the hand that feels less like industrial ware and more like something quietly considered. Unbreakable in the way ceramic is not.
Six patterns, drawn from the seasonal vocabulary of the Japanese year—Sakura (cherry blossom), Hanabi (fireworks), Momiji (autumn leaves), Ajisai (hydrangea), Yukitsubaki (snow camellia), and Nishikigoi (the ornamental carp, born in Niigata's Ojiya and Yamakoshi villages and long held to be a symbol of peace). Wonderful with sake; equally at home with cold beer, iced tea, or a slow whisky on the rocks. Arrives in a gift box—ready for a home bar shelf or a thoughtful present to someone who values small, well-made things.
Specifications
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Material: Copper with tin plating
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Size (product): ø 2.40 × H 3.46 in
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Size (package): 2.56 × 2.56 × 4.13 in (gift box)
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Weight (product): 0.298 lb
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Weight (shipping): 0.353 lb
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Origin: Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata, Japan
Care & Handling
Wipe the cup completely dry after use and washing—moisture left on the metal surface can cause spotting or darkening. Any darkening is purely cosmetic and does not affect flavor or safety. Prolonged exposure to UV light may dull the printed pattern; store away from direct sunlight and strong indoor lighting. Copper conducts heat well—do not use with hot drinks (risk of burns).
