Meanings
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.
Symbolizes Japanese dining culture and traditional drinking customs. Often associated with sushi restaurants and izakaya (Japanese pubs).
Represents Japanese culture or celebrations more broadly, beyond just the beverage itself.
Used in contexts relating to Japanese traditions, festivals, or cultural appreciation.
In Japanese culture, sake plays an important ceremonial role in Shinto rituals, weddings, and business meetings.
Combos with ๐ถ
Culture
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' (้ ) can refer to any alcoholic beverage, while the specific rice wine depicted is more precisely called 'nihonshu' (ๆฅๆฌ้ ).
History
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.
Usage increased with the global boom in Japanese restaurants and izakaya-style dining experiences.
Rising popularity of Japanese food culture in Western countries.
Saw increased usage during pandemic as symbol of at-home Japanese cooking experiments.
COVID-19 lockdowns prompted interest in recreating restaurant experiences at home.