Choshi

The term "tokkuri" refers to a sake bottle used to pour sake, but originally referred to a metal or wooden vessel with a long handle used at formal drinking parties and ceremonies. There are various types of spout shapes, such as the one-mouthed choshi used at imperial banquets and the double-mouthed choshi used for large drinking parties. During the Momoyama period, a vessel called a "teishi" for refilling sake began to be used as a choshi, and in the Edo period, teishi for sake came to be called "choshi." During this period, ceramic and porcelain choshi also began to be used, and colorfully decorated ones appeared. Meanwhile, "tokuri" are vessels used to offer sake to the Shinto altar, and have existed since the Muromachi period, but small tokkuri (sake bottles) holding one to two go (1-2 go) became popular during the Edo period, and from the Meiji period onwards, small warm sake bottles also came to be called "choshi."