Guinomi Tebori
The Satsuma Tin Cups for Japanese Sake

Date：15, Aug, 2014
Investigated and Written by Misaka Youhei
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On the last article, I said something like “Titanium is better than tin.” However, I also have found the great tin guinomim a cup for sake, made by Otsuji Asahido in Kagoshima. They have created various kinds made of tin there since 1912.

I am here to present the three reasons why the cups are great.

First, tin cups originally have an ion effect to clean what they involve inside. It is known that Sn2+ ions, diatomic tin ions born in water, intensely and continuously restrain microbial flora. Water gets muddy and soon rotten, out of unwanted bacteria. Tin keeps it from them and the water stays clean and delicious. So that is often used on some dentifrices.

Second reason is being figured out by its heat retaining property. It is often said tin’s thermal conductivity is high. The value is 64 W/mK. Higher than nickel silver, chromium nickel steel and the like, it clearly falls short of pure copper’s 366 and aluminum’s 204. If you wanted a cup of high thermal conductivity, I would recommend copper one. The lower it is, the higher it retains heat and coolness. Tin is the very one when you slowly taste cold sake, namely.

Now, finally, all of the handmade cups are full of grace which has silently but surely been fostered since 1912. Kagoshima used to be famous as a district where tin was mined well, although it has dried up there today. Then, they have politely cultivated culture to make something of tin. Otsuji Asahido is being standing at the edge of the history. Using their cups and drinking sake, you can get more satisfied than anything else.

The Satsuma tin cups are different from Osaka’s, though it is said Osaka is the home of something tin. So this makes you closer to the only thing. It is all right with any kinds of drinks, but I don’t commend beer. I believe the cups are just for Japanese sake.