A was originally a square wooden box used to measure rice in
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
during the feudal period. In 1885 Japan signed the
Convention du Mètre and in 1886 converted all of its traditional measures to the metric system.
''Masu'' existed in many sizes, typically covering the range from one , one , ''isshōmasu'' c. 1.8 L) to one .
The advent of modern
rice cookers and a higher calorie diet in Japan has made them impractical for measuring portions of rice, though the plastic cups used with
rice cookers now have a 180 mL or one ''gō'' capacity
Today ''masu'' are largely used for drinking
sake. Drinking vessels are made from ''
hinoki
''Chamaecyparis obtusa'' (Japanese cypress, hinoki cypress or hinoki; or , ) is a species of cypress native to central Japan in East Asia, and widely cultivated in the temperate northern hemisphere for its high-quality timber and ornamental qu ...
'' (Japanese Cypress wood), as it imparts a special scent and flavor. The drinker sips from the corner of the box, which pours it into the mouth.
Toasts are poured by stacking a pyramid of the guests' ''masu'' on a towel or cloth, with the toastmaker's ''masu'' on top. It is then overflowed until it fills all the ''masu'' beneath it. This symbolizes the generosity of the toaster to their friends and how they wish to share their happiness and good fortune with them.
*''Sanjakumasu'' (3 ''
shaku''
4 ml = Often used in bars to hold a 50 ml shotglass, which is then filled to overflowing
[This service custom is called ''sosogi-koboshi'' ("overflowing pour") or ''mokkiri zake'' ("generous sake"). Originally the small ''masu'' or a ''sakazuki'' (flat sake saucer) was placed under a ''ochoko'' (sake cup) or shotglass to catch spilt liquor or to use as a coaster. After World War 2 it was used in bars as a bonus to the customer to hustle up business. It then spread to the upper echelons of the hospitality industry.] to make up the difference. If the shotglass is used for sake, it is served chilled or at room-temperature. The ''sanjakumasu'' can also be used in the ''
san san kudo'' wedding ceremony in the place of the ''sakazuki'' (sake dish).
*''Goshakumasu'' (5 ''shaku''
0 ml = Holds a half ''gō'' measure.
*''Hasshakumasu'' (8 ''shaku'' or 4/5 ''gō''
44 ml = The former standard ''masu'' size, probably because 8 is a lucky number.
*''Ichigōmasu'' (1 ''gō''
80 ml = The modern standard ''masu'' size, equal to a measure of 1 ''gō'' (0.18039 L) or 10 ''shaku''.
*''Nigōhanmasu'' (2.5 ''gō''
50 ml. = Holds a quarter ''shō'' measure.
*''Gogōmasu'' (5 ''gō''
00 ml = Holds a half ''shō'' measure.
*''Isshōmasu'' (1 ''shō'' or 10 ''gō''
.8 L = Holds a full ''shō'' measure.
A small , lidded form of ''masu'', is sold for serving pepper, salt, sugar, and other dry condiments at the table.
See also
*
Sake set
*
Japanese units of measurement
Traditional Japanese units of measurement or the shakkanhō () is the customary units, traditional system of measurement used by the people of the Japanese archipelago. It is largely based on the Chinese units of measurement, Chinese system, whic ...
References
External links
{{Commons cat, Masu (containers), Masu (containers)
Sake Traditions
Culture of Japan
Obsolete units of measurement
Units of volume
Human-based units of measurement
Origami
Sake
Standards of Japan