The phoenix is a legendary auspicious bird that has been revered since ancient China, and is said to take up residence in paulownia trees with the arrival of times of peace.
This legend spread to Japan during the Heian period, when paulownia and phoenix patterns began to be used on the clothing and furnishings of the emperor, and even today the combination of paulownia and phoenix is considered an auspicious pattern. The "Paulownia x Phoenix" pattern is applied to the highest quality Aizu paulownia wood to create a shot glass that is perfect as a gift for celebrations or as a special sake cup for personal use.
Highly precise woodworking techniques
The woodturning of the premium sake glass "Aizu Paulownia x Houou" is done by Katsusuke Arai. His natural dexterity and accumulated solid technical skills have enabled him to create a breathtakingly beautiful form and texture. The prevention of condensation is also a result of the woodturner's techniques and ingenuity.
Enjoy the changes in lacquerware with "Kijiro-nuri"
To preserve the beauty of the Aizu paulownia wood's texture while achieving a color that changes over time, the lacquer was applied by Yushin Sakane, a specialist in "Kijiro lacquering." Kijiro lacquering, which has a heavy, subdued luster, is the most advanced lacquering technique, and is the work of Yushin Sakane, who has devoted himself to studying Joboji lacquering (Iwate) for many years.
