Soothing sounds and other seasonal symbols of Japan are also part of the techno-cultural innovation.

One of the unique aspects of sake culture is the sho. A short, box-like drinking vessel with a square base, the sho is used for sake, and serves as both a visual and tactile reminder that you’re partaking of Japan’s most iconic indigenous alcoholic beverage.

However, Tokyo based Drill Inc. and creative partner Tongullman have come up with a breathtaking way to make drinking sake from a sho feel even more elegantly Japanese.

Called the Holoyoisho, the cup’s name is partially inspired by the Japanese word horoyoi, meaning “slightly and comfortably drunk.” The L is Holoyoisho isn’t a transliteration error, though, because it’s there to let you know that the cup uses holographic technology to fill your cup with virtual sakura cherry blossom petals, as demonstrated in the video below.

Not only do the flowers fall softly thorough the clear liquid of the sake, they even accumulate at the bottom of the sho. Oh, and if you’d prefer a less spring-like motif, Holoyoisho will also be able to create colorful bursting fireworks, a traditional Japanese symbol of summer, in your drink via the projection equipment inside the cup’s base.

The cup also provides an audio enhancement to your sake-sipping session, with a speaker that can play pieces of classical Japanese music or soothing, contemplative sounds like the soft burbling of a river.

Holoyoisho will be making its public debut at a special two-day event held at Pavilion, a restaurant in Tokyo’s Nakameguro neighborhood, on June 26 and 27. Drill Inc. says it’s planning to offer the cup for purchase after a bit more fine-tuning, with the retail version controlled via the user’s smartphone, and should they add a few more seasonal options, like perhaps maple leaves for autumn and snowflakes for winter, it’ll be something to enjoy all year long.

Related: Pavilion
Source: PR Times via Japaaan
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: PR Times, YouTube/Drill inc.
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Follow Casey on Twitter, where he likes sho because the’re harder to spill than a normal sake cup.