Locality
The world's frigid, temperate, and tropical ocean regions.
Original of Japanese name
Alias
Sekketsu mei, Senri ko, Kyu kou ra.
Remarks
A massive abalone cup:
In the past, a high-end ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) in Naniwa known as Ukamusetei
possessed eight sake cups made from seashells. Each cups were named Ukamuse, Kimigatame,
Naruto, Takioto, Wagaseko, Ikuse, Harukaze, _eda. Among them, the most highly prized was a
massive abalone shell cup named Ukamuse which was carefully stored in a cloth bag said to be
made from the jinbaori (surcoat) that Motochika Chohsokabe used to wear. This abalone has
eleven holes; if you seal them and pour in sake, it holds 1,350 ml. Guests who drank a full
cup to the last drop had their names recorded in a guestbook called the Chōkanchō as a mark
of honor. This traditional Japanese restaurant was originally named Harebaretei, but it came
to be known as Ukamusetei after its giant abalone shell sake cup became famous. Incidentally,
the figured abalone has a shell length of 210 mm and five holes, and holds 700 ml of sake.
