Lucky Animals Square Sauce Plate

Animals associated with good fortune in Japan adorn the center of this square plate, with seven designs to choose from. The crane and the turtle, traditionally said to live 1,000 and 10,000 years, respectively, are a classic pair for weddings and long-life celebrations. The red sea bream, or tai, earns its place at festive meals through a play on medetai, the Japanese word for “joyous.” The remaining designs feature a lucky cat with its raised paw, a komainu lion dog that guards shrine gates, a tiger, and a plump pig. Red dots at the four corners and a brown line along the rim frame each animal. The plate holds a spoonful of chopped scallions or grated daikon for a bowl of noodles, and a pair of them works well for a small assortment of appetizers. The crane and turtle designs make a fitting wedding gift, carrying wishes for a long and happy life together.