Japan's premier Yamada Nishiki rice growing region is home to Nakago Shop & Workshop, a wonderful place to not only try out and purchase, but to also enjoy making your own tin sake cups!
OEM Soko staff heard about Nakago Shop & Workshop through a mutual acquaintance and quickly set up a time to visit. We're always looking forward to meeting new friends and see locally crafted products!
The main factory at K.Fujiwara metalworks.
Nakago Shop & Workshop is located in Ono city, about a 1 hour drive northwest of Kobe city in Hyogo prefecture. While it's not actually that far from Kobe city (24km), it does take some time to cover that distance driving through the mountains. For those who enjoy getting behind the wheel, it's a relaxing drive without travelling on expressways.
Nakago's assorted sake cup designs are finely crafted and each product has a unique 'skin' design which emphasizes the artisan quality.
The main factory "K.Fujiwara" produces shell-casting metal items such as hydraulic valve products for construction machinery, bullet trains, agricultural equipment and medical equipment. It was from this industry that the Nakago brand of tin products was formed. By using shell-casting, intricate designs can be produced, including drinkware. Nakago produces various drinkware and related items including "Guinomi" (larger sake cups) and Ochoko (smaller sake cups), sake flask set with one tin and one glass sake cups for comparing them both, and even a reusable tin drinking straw!
A drinking straw made from high quality tin, which must be tried to fully appreciate its ability to enhance beverages.
Tin (Japanese: 錫 "Suzu") is said to enhance the sake drinking experience by reducing bitterness and adding smoothness. It's difficult to describe, however OEM Soko staff were pleasantly surprised at the noticeable difference in drinking quality with tin products, especially when the tin cups are chilled. It really can't be beaten on a hot and humid summer day!
Nakago's "Ochoko" line of small tin sake cups.
Tin drinkware is recommended for sake of course, but any beverage can be improved by a quality tin cup. It's also said that beer drinking is enhanced by the tin as it keeps the beer cooler for longer and may even promote a creamier head when served. We certainly wouldn't turn down an offer to drink beer from a chilled tin cup... or wine... or iced coffee... or fruit juice... etc!
A delicious Iced coffee drink served to visitors in a tall, chilled tin cup made by Nakago.
Nakago Workshop - true to its name - also offers visitors the pleasure of making their very own original tin cup. There are a number of different sizes and designs to choose from, and a professional craftsman will guide you through the various stages of creating a sand-based cast, pouring molten tin into the cast and also instructions (and help if needed) on finishing the cup according to your own design preferences. The results are bound to bring smiles to even the most inexperienced guests. See below for our short video documenting this highly enjoyable process!
A gorgeous platter made from malleable tin, which can be formed into a bowl or flattened to a plate according to one's needs.
An enjoyable afternoon was had by all and OEM Soko highly recommends visiting Nakago Shop & Workshop to not only obtain, but experience high quality tin cups which not only will enhance your beverages for years to come, but also double as a wonderful keepsake from your trip to Japan.
Address: 268-258 Manshojicho, Ono City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
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By all means please contact our English speaking staff for any inquiries you may have:
inquiries@oemsoko.co.jp