You know that feeling when you buy something beautiful for a special occasion, and then it just lives in your cupboard for the next eleven months? That’s the problem most sake sets have. They’re gorgeous when you’re using them, but the rest of the time they’re just taking up space in the back of a cabinet somewhere, waiting for the next dinner party or celebration.
The NON sake set was designed specifically to solve that problem. Created in collaboration with Somei Shikkiten, a lacquerware wholesaler that’s been around since 1923 in Sabae City (the heart of Echizen lacquerware country in Fukui Prefecture), this three-piece set does something clever: it transforms into a sculptural object when you’re not drinking from it.
Designer:
Here’s how it works. The set includes a flat circular base, a shorter cup for warm sake called an ochoko, and a taller cup for chilled sake. When stacked together, they create this sleek, tapered cone shape that looks more like a contemporary art piece than drinkware. The dark lacquer finish lets the natural wood grain show through, giving each piece subtle texture and depth. You can leave it out on your counter or shelf, and it actually looks good there. It’s not screaming “I’m a sake set!” at anyone who walks by. It’s just quietly beautiful, blending into your space like any other well-designed object.
This matters more than you might think. Japanese sake brewing just got added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, which means sake culture is having a moment again, both in Japan and internationally. More people are curious about sake, wanting to try it, wanting to understand it. But there’s often this gap between traditional sake culture, with all its specific rituals and equipment, and the way most of us actually live today.
That’s where NON comes in. It’s not abandoning tradition, it’s adapting it. The set is made using traditional Echizen lacquerware techniques that have been refined over centuries. Lacquerware isn’t just pretty; it’s incredibly practical. It’s durable, it keeps drinks at the right temperature, and it has this warmth to it that glass and ceramic don’t quite match. The lacquer technique also highlights rather than hides the wood grain, creating a finish that feels both refined and organic. But instead of making something that only works for formal occasions, the designers thought about modern lifestyles. They thought about small apartments, open-plan living spaces, people who might not have room for dedicated storage for every single special-occasion item they own.
The design also acknowledges that sake isn’t just one thing. In summer, you might want it cold, refreshing, crisp. In winter, you might prefer it warm, comforting, almost like a gentle hug in a cup. Having both a chilled sake cup and a warm sake cup means you’re ready for either mood, any season. The different heights of the two cups aren’t just functional, they’re part of what makes the stacked form so visually interesting. And when those seasons change and you’re switching from one to the other, the pieces you’re not using don’t become clutter. They’re part of the same unified design, still contributing to the overall aesthetic even when they’re just sitting there.
There’s something really appealing about objects that serve multiple purposes without compromising on either function. NON doesn’t sacrifice being a good sake set in order to look good on your shelf, and it doesn’t sacrifice its appearance in order to be functional. It’s both, fully, at the same time. That’s harder to achieve than it sounds. The minimalist form could easily feel cold or generic, but the visible wood grain and hand-crafted lacquer finish keep it feeling warm and special.
The NON sake set feels like it gets the balance of tradition but also making sense for how we actually live. It respects the centuries of craftsmanship behind Echizen lacquerware and the cultural significance of sake drinking, while also understanding that most of us don’t have the luxury of space or the desire to hide beautiful things away until they’re “appropriate” to use. Sometimes the best design is the one that lets you enjoy something special any day of the week, not just on special occasions. And if it happens to look good doing it? Even better.
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