It may come as a surprise to learn that Japan has a unique tradition in the production of pewter ware. Japanese porcelain and pottery are world-famous; but pewter ware? Yes, Japan boasts a timeless tradition in handcrafted pewter ware, too -- a tradition that is carried on today by artisans of peerless skill.

Crafting of utensils based in tin -- the main component of pewter -- is said to have come to Japan from China in the 7th century. It's thought to have come as part of tea culture, in the form of tea caddies and the like. But in Japan, pewter was soon adopted as an ideal material for sake dispensers. What made it ideal is tin's property of resistance to rusting, plus its ability to absorb impurities and purify water.

As you might expect, Japan's artisans weren't content to copy the work of their Chinese counterparts. They quickly moved to improve pewter utensils by blending extremely soft, malleable inorganic tin with other metals. This is what makes Japanese pewter ware altogether unique. It's also the secret behind the incredibly smooth and mellow taste of sake dispensed or drunk from pewter ware.

The exquisite pewter ware offered by YAQMO is specially crafted by the dedicated artisans of Suzukou. While carrying on the legacy of Edo's finest craftsmen, they infuse their works with a tasteful contemporary flair augmented by supreme functional practicality.