Okame and Hyottoko Japanese Teacup Pair

One cup in this pair is vermilion red, while the other is cobalt blue, with each color applied in visible brushstrokes that vary in intensity from deep and saturated to light and translucent. Look inside the rim and you’ll find a face: okame, the round-cheeked woman associated with good fortune, adorns the red cup, and hyottoko, her comic, pucker-lipped partner, in the blue. The two often appear side by side in Japanese festival dances, making them a natural pairing for a set of two. Each cup is shaped like a soba choko cup, a traditional Japanese vessel used for serving noodle dipping sauce. The gently flared rim feels soft against the lips, and each 200 ml (6.8 fl oz) cup suits green tea, coffee, or juice. Together, they make a thoughtful gift for newlyweds or couples celebrating an anniversary.