The possibilities of soba choko

As the name suggests, this soba choko is meant to hold dipping sauce for soba, but I feel that this vessel has endless possibilities.

In the coming season, you could try adding a little soup or hot tea, or black beans for the New Year, or for dessert add ice cream and garnish with jam or fruit to create a delicious parfait.

The photo shows a soba choko (small cup for soba noodles) made by Keizangama, an Arita ware maker. There are over 1,000 different designs, and each one has a different price. It seems that the value lies in the artisan's careful brushstrokes.