“Otoso” The Sake for prayer of new year

What is Otoso?

Otoso is Medicinal Sake drunk at New Year’s; formerly believed to prevent illnesses. The custom of drinking Otoso came from China and was practiced at court during the Heian period(794-11185). Otoso is prepared by soaking in  sake or Mirin(sweet sake) a bag containing spices such as  cinnamon bark and the seeds of the sansho(Japanese peppertree) and roots of medicinal plants such as Bofu(Siler divaricatum) and Okera.(adapted from japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia.Tokyo: Kodansha,1993)

Otoso literally means protecting decease and disaster and giving a prayer for longevity.
It was widespread as a Sake which peaple drink in the New Year.Otoso is served by “Tosoki” which is beautiful lacqear ware including “Choshi”(Sake bottle),”Sakazuki” (sake cup) , ”Sakazuki-Dai” (Stand to put Sakazuki in layers) and tray.

Manners of drinking Otoso

The eldest person pour otoso to the cup for the youngest person atfirst. (The youngest person pour it to the second youngest person.)

Formally, each person will sip once out of all three sakazuki starting with the smallest one and sip next smallest sakazuki in order , but a simplified version is more common; three small pours into one cup and sipped three separate times.

Drinker should chant before shipping “Hitori korewo nomeba ikka kurushimi naku, ikka korewo nomeba hitosato yamai nashi” meaning, ‘one drinks this and the whole family is happy, the whole family drinks this and the whole town will be healthy‘.

(If you are interested in buying beautiful “Tosoki”, please click the banner link below.)