Demons out, fortune in — a set of five Japanese sake cups with a hidden surprise.

Each cup is sculpted as the fierce face of an oni (demon) on the outside. But drain your sake, and a smiling Otafuku — the goddess of good fortune and mirth — is revealed at the bottom of the bowl. Together they capture the beloved Japanese Setsubun saying "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi" — demons out, fortune in.

Made in Tokoname, one of Japan's oldest pottery towns, from fine shudei red stoneware. What makes this set special is that every cup is different:

• One signed by the Tokoname sculptor Sekisen, with a hand-painted Otafuku
• One with a gilded Otafuku and a mitsudomoe (triple-comma) motif
• One inked with the very words "Oni soto / Fuku uchi"
• Two in bare, richly textured clay, showing the sculptor's carving at its best

Every cup is hand-modeled, rests on three sculpted feet, and wears a slightly different expression — a set you'll never tire of looking at. Wonderful for sake, or simply displayed as a row of characterful faces.

A rare chance to own all five together.

Details

• Origin: Japan · Tokoname ware (shudei red stoneware)
• Set of 5 sake cups (guinomi)
• One cup signed Sekisen; four unsigned
• Theme: Oni & Otafuku (Setsubun, "demons out, fortune in")
• Age: 20th century (Showa period)
• Each approx. 5 × 5 cm, height 2.5–2.9 cm (2 × 2 in, 1–1.1 in)