The tokkuri earthenware sake bottle is essential for tasting warm sake. Tokkuri is said to have originated from heishi, the vessel used to offer sake to gods, and developed by sometime in the Kamakura era until it finally took shape in the late Muromachi era.
The origin of the unique sounding name has a few theories, from “tokkul” meaning “liquor jar” in ancient Korean to the sound of pouring sake from a vessel.
Traditionally tokkuri was big enough to contain 1 shou (1.8 liters) to 3 shou of liquid and used for storage and transportation of sake, as well as shoyu soy sauce, oil, and grains. It is in the mid Edo era when the present size tokkuri that contains 1 gou (180 milliliter) or 2 gou, suitable for placing in a bowl of hot water and serving directly, was created. It was because the custom of drinking warm sake gained popularity. Tokkuri has since then appeared in a number of rakugo stories and been appreciated as one of the commodity tools.