πΆ
Sake Bottle
SAH-keh
Definitions
1
Food Β· Beverage
Common
A traditional Japanese rice wine bottle (tokkuri) used to serve sake, a fermented alcoholic beverage made from rice.
Used to represent Japanese cuisine, alcohol consumption, or cultural celebrations involving sake.
Finally trying authentic πΆ and sushi tonight!
Instagram caption
Japan trip highlight: learning how πΆ is made at a traditional brewery tour
Travel blog
Symbolizes Japanese dining culture and traditional drinking customs. Often associated with sushi restaurants and izakaya (Japanese pubs).
2
Culture Β· Celebration
Uncommon
Represents Japanese culture or celebrations more broadly, beyond just the beverage itself.
Used in contexts relating to Japanese traditions, festivals, or cultural appreciation.
Happy Japanese New Year! πΆππ
Social media post
In Japanese culture, sake plays an important ceremonial role in Shinto rituals, weddings, and business meetings.
Evolution Timeline
2010
First introduced in Unicode 6.0 as part of the initial set of food and drink emojis.
Growing global interest in Japanese cuisine and culture.
2015
Usage increased with the global boom in Japanese restaurants and izakaya-style dining experiences.
Rising popularity of Japanese food culture in Western countries.
2020
Saw increased usage during pandemic as symbol of at-home Japanese cooking experiments.
COVID-19 lockdowns prompted interest in recreating restaurant experiences at home.
Cultural Context
Sake has been produced in Japan for over 2,000 years and was traditionally used in religious ceremonies before becoming a popular beverage.
The ritual of pouring sake for others (never yourself) is an important social custom in Japan that demonstrates respect and builds relationships.
The emoji depicts a traditional ceramic tokkuri flask, though sake is also served in wooden boxes (masu) or modern glass bottles in contemporary settings.
In Japanese, 'sake' (ι
) can refer to any alcoholic beverage, while the specific rice wine depicted is more precisely called 'nihonshu' (ζ₯ζ¬ι
).
Regional Variations
Japan
Used with greater specificity and cultural understanding. Often distinguishes between different types of sake and drinking contexts.
United States
Often associated with sushi restaurants and Japanese dining. Frequently used to indicate a night out for Japanese food.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: More likely to use literally to indicate sake consumption or Japanese restaurants. Sometimes used in business contexts.
Gen_Z: Often used ironically or as part of aesthetic Japanese-inspired content. May appear in anime fandom contexts without alcohol reference.
Older: Limited usage, typically only when specifically discussing Japanese cuisine or travel experiences to Japan.
Millennials: Commonly used to indicate Japanese dining experiences, date nights, or cultural appreciation of Japan.
Common Combinations
πΆπ£
Japanese dining, specifically sake and sushi.
Represents traditional Japanese meal pairing, popular in both Japan and internationally.
πΆπ₯
Alcoholic celebration or toast, mixing cultural drinking traditions.
Often used for multicultural celebrations or fusion dining experiences.
πΆπ―π΅
Japanese culture, traditions, or travel to Japan.
Used when discussing Japanese heritage or experiences in Japan.
πΆπ₯
Hot sake (kan-zake) or excitement about Japanese dining.
References the traditional practice of heating sake, especially popular in winter.