Barbar Iroe Soba Choko Cup – Hasami Porcelain

The soba choko is a classic vessel in Japanese tableware, originally used for dipping sauce with soba noodles and now widely enjoyed as a versatile cup for tea, dips/sauce, desserts, or side dishes.

This design draws inspiration from Ko-Imari coloured porcelain, whose vibrant enamel decoration captivated European collectors during the Edo period and later influenced porcelain production in Europe. The palette echoes the elegant colours of the Enpō era (17th century), reinterpreted with a light contemporary touch.

Traditional motifs are paired with modern pets. At Karintō we offer two designs:

Pug – inspired by the traditional Shika-Momiji (deer and autumn leaves) motif, here playfully reimagined with a pug in place of the deer.

Exotic Shorthair – based on the classic Juka-mon (flowering tree motif), where the protective tiger is replaced by a watchful exotic shorthair cat.

Produced in Hasami, Nagasaki, a region known for its long history of practical, well-crafted tableware. Part of the Soba Choko Encyclopaedia series, which explores the many decorative possibilities of the soba choko, a vessel that has been used in Japanese homes for over 400 years.