Studio Ghibli releases Japanese sake flask and cup set for anime lovers
Porco Rosso steals the spotlight with a tokkuri and ochoko you won't find anywhere else.
Out of all the animated movies Studio Ghibli has ever produced, Porco Rosso remains one of the most underrated. The tale of a pig who flies planes sadly missed its mark with some audience-goers, but for director Hayao Miyazaki, whose been known to depict himself as a pig, it remains a firm favourite — so much so that we can imagine a smile fluttering over his face if he were to see this sweet sake set that honours the film.
Called the 'Porco Rosso Tokkuri Ochoko Set Kanpai with Porco', this two-piece set includes a sake flask, known as 'tokkuri' in Japanese, and an ochoko ('sake cup'), which are like no others you'll find in Japan.
▼ The tokkuri is designed to look like the wine bottle seen in the film…
▼ …while the sake cup is shaped like Porco, complete with the character's distinctive moustache and sunglasses.
▼ The set lets you 'kanpai with Porco' ('cheers with Porco').
The wine bottle's label features a motif of the Savoia S.21 Prototype Fighter Seaplane that Porco flies, along with an Italian phrase that translates as 'This is what it means to be cool', and the year of the movie's release.
The flask measures 16.5 centimetres (6.5 inches) in height and 5.8 centimetres in width and holds 200 millilitres (6.8 ounces) of liquid. The sake cup masures 3.5 centimetres in height and 5.2 centimetres in diameter and holds 35 millilitres of liquid.
Both the flask and cup are made from porcelain and are microwave and dishwasher safe. Initially released in 2018, the set has been out of stock for around seven years but is now available to purchase at Donguri Kyowakoku stores and online, priced at 4,950 yen (US$34.64).
Source, images: Donguri Kyowakoku
● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Prada Wants to Change the Conversation Away from Aggression, toward Gentleness
MILAN (AP) — With global tensions escalating, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons want to change the conversation to something gentle, calm and nice with their menswear collection for next summer, previewed during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday. 'We tried to make a change of tone, from powerful to gentle, calm,' Prada said after the show. 'Basically, the opposite of aggression, power, nastiness.' 'Sometimes it is good to reflect, and be a bit more calm,' added Simons, her co-creative director. Innocence reimagined In that vein, the pair's latest menswear collection recalled childish innocence, opening with short shorts that were more precisely elasticized briefs, with pleated pockets, worn with a sturdy, sure-footed shoe and black sock and a crisp white buttoned-down shirt with a naive print of a sun and waves. These panty-shorts were paired also with leather coats, long cotton shirts or fringed knitwear that give men access to the pant-less look already embraced by some female celebrities. Freedom in form and color A more serious double-breasted suit was worn with the sleeves pushed up in a get-to-work gesture layered over track jackets. Track pants with a side stripe or straight, cropped cotton trousers otherwise anchored the looks with leather jackets, car coats or knitwear. Urban looks ensembles paired with backpacks and flip-flops, on the verge of the getaway. Light, summer looks were finished with loafers. Nothing was completely office, and nothing was completely beach. The silhouette was deliberately unstructured, and the color palette broad and undefined. Gray, black, khaki and navy were offset by red, sky blue, lime green and turquoise and purple, monochromes mixing casually, as if to say, any way you want. 'We wanted everything to be human in its dimension, to be light and fresh and colorful,' Simons said. Playful, with a shadow There was humor, even whimsy, in bright cone-shaped woven raffia hats that recalled a shuttlecock, some with strands of raffia feathering over the eyes as if a shade. In the spirit of change, the showroom was left deliberately raw, with concrete and orange beams exposed and sunlight streaming through the high windows. Childlike daisy-shaped rugs were the only decoration. While the colorful headgear and floral accents put a smile on people's faces, news that the U.S. had entered Israel's war with Iran on Sunday cast a somber mood. 'We are always very aware of that,' Prada said. 'Good luck to everyone.' Celeb frenzy Outside the Prada Foundation showroom, hundreds of fans screamed for the arrival of Asian pop group TransfOrmProject, South Korean actor Lee Do-hyun and Japanese singer Sana. Also on hand were English-Ghanaian rapper Stormzy, NBA star Anthony Edwards and actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Harris Dickinson.
Japan Today
4 hours ago
- Japan Today
10 Japanese summer traditions to try this year
By Heidi Sarol Summer in Japan starts with a few weeks of rain right after Golden Week. From then on, it gets progressively hotter and more humid. Thankfully, it's not all that bad. Throughout the centuries, Japanese culture has found ways to celebrate each passing season. Each prefecture has its own share of summer festivals, from fireworks to serving up regional specialties to cool you off. While not definitive, here's a quick roundup of 10 Japanese summer traditions you need to try (if you haven't already). 1. Fireworks Festivals 2. Bon Odori 3. Nagashi Somen 4. Yukata 5. Suikawari 6. Beer Gardens 7. Kakigori 8. Sparklers 9. Bug Catching 10. Firefly Watching 1. Fireworks Festivals See the sky light up in a burst of color. Even if no one can say for sure when hanabi (fireworks) first came to Japan from China, they've clearly left a lasting impression. Summer in Japan wouldn't be complete without the distant sound of fireworks echoing through the night, thanks to the many festivals held across the country. While fireworks displays exist around the world, in Japan they carry deeper cultural meaning — honoring the ephemeral and celebrating the beauty of nature. 2. Bon Odori Follow along. Every August, Japanese people observe Obon, a Buddhist festival that honors the spirits of their ancestors. During this time, families come together and symbolically welcome their departed loved ones back to the world of the living. It can also be a little bit spooky. One of the most recognizable traditions of Obon is Bon Odori, a folk dance with roots dating back to the late Heian or Kamakura Periods, which became widespread by the 1600s. Each region adds its own flair, but the most common sight is a group of musicians performing atop a yagura (wooden scaffold) while dancers move in a slow circle, either clockwise or counterclockwise. 3. Nagashi Somen Don't let it slip away. When you feel like melting but still crave noodles, look for somen (thinly sliced wheat noodles) or better yet, nagashi (flowing) somen. Originating in Kyushu in the mid-1950s, nagashi somen involves catching somen noodles flowing down bamboo pipes. It's a time-honored tradition that's not only meant to bring people together, but also to have them cool off. Once you catch the noodles, simply dunk them in tsuyu (savory dipping sauce). 4. Yukata Stylish and practical Click here to read more. External Link © GaijinPot
Asahi Shimbun
7 hours ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Japan's music industry seeks to expand abroad beyond CD sales
Mrs. Green Apple wins the Best Japanese Song Artist award in the first Music Awards Japan ceremony at Rohm Theater Kyoto on May 21. (©CEIPA/MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025) A new awards gala was held to spread Japan's pop music to the rest of the world, but the struggling domestic industry may have to ditch its traditional practices to enable expansion. The inaugural ceremonies of Music Awards Japan were held at Rohm Theater Kyoto on May 21 and 22. The red carpet was rolled out for industry officials and artists, including guests from overseas. One stated goal of the awards is to help 'spread the music of Japan and the rest of Asia to other parts of the world and forge global connections.' The award organizers set up a number of categories honoring overseas songs, including 'Best Song Asia,' apparently in hopes of connecting the awards with other Asian nations. Japanese music industry officials are eyeing the global market because of a sense of alarm about what is happening in Japan. 'The domestic market has matured fully and flattened off,' Tatsuya Nomura, chairman of the Music Awards Japan Executive Committee, told The Asahi Shimbun on May 22. 'Now is the time to expand geographical coverage.' Figures of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry show the global recorded music market was worth $29.6 billion (4.3 trillion yen) in 2024, up 1.6-fold from five years earlier. By contrast, the Recording Industry Association of Japan said the production value of 'physical products' and sales of 'digital music' in Japan totaled 328.5 billion yen in 2024, up only 1.1-fold from 2019. Despite the ease of digital streaming to push music beyond national borders, physical media remain dominant in Japan. Popular idol groups affiliated with Smile-Up Inc., formerly Johnny & Associates Inc., have continued to emphasize CD sales. The IFPI figures show that streaming accounted for about 70 percent of the global recorded music market in 2024. However, streaming accounted for slightly more than 30 percent of total music revenue in Japan last year, the RIAJ figures show. CDs and other physical products made up more than 60 percent. There are, however, signs of change. The KinKi Kids and Snow Man idol units previously affiliated with Johnny & Associates embarked on a subscription streaming campaign in spring. Gustav Gyllenhammar, a //global vice president// with music streaming service operator Spotify AB, told The Asahi Shimbun that he believes Japanese artists are now facing lower hurdles to reach out to listeners abroad. Gyllenhammar pointed out, however, that Japanese music industry officials will have to make efforts on every front of the market, including artists and labels, if they wish to obtain more listeners. (This article was written by Shiki Iwasawa and Kenichiro Shino.)
