03-Tulip-shaped Nihonshu Cup

Made with thin tempered glass

無心聽着街外吵雜的聲音,汽車駛過,或者只是空氣的流動聲而已,我一邊慢慢把日本酒倒進杯中。

這杯子的形狀好像縮小了三倍的葡萄酒杯,把所有香氣都包圍起來。

With an absent mind, I listen to the piercing sound from the street; cars speeding by, or it might just be the wind. Slowly, I pour myself a glass of Japanese Sake (Nihonshu in Japanese).

The shape of this Nihonshu glass cup is similar to a wine glass, but three times smaller. Though tiny, it traps all the aromas and flavors.

別人可能對於單獨的飲者投以不懷好意的眼光,單獨地上酒館,或者在家中自斟自酌,都好像有一種違背道德的感覺。跟酒友們暢飲固然快樂,把酒一口氣喝光,厚厚的杯子拍打在桌面上的聲音聽起來就好像敲響狂歡的拍子。只是一聚一散,快樂過後原來也有不少傷感的後遺症。

Some cast critical eyes upon solo drinkers, and it seems to be an unethical crime to go to a pub alone, or simply enjoy a solitary drink at home. Of course, it is fun to drink with your friends. Downing a drink in one go, and that sound of heavy glass landing upon the table echoes like the inside of a carnival tent. Yet, even with all the happiness that a tipple-filled evening brings, eventually a type of sadness sets in.

酒的真正味道在舌頭上散發,把我真正觸動,原來都是我一個人的時候。孤獨的品酒師也許與認真的生活體驗家無異,思考的事未必全然跟酒有關,但都是細細嚐,慢慢想。酒的香氣充滿了口腔、鼻腔,包圍全身上下。嘴唇在杯緣上如履薄冰,思緒在上面優雅行走。除了酒,還有杯子陪伴自己呢。聽說蘇格拉底的酒量很好,一邊辯論一邊喝酒, 但從不喝醉。有人問:既然不想酒醉,又為什麼非喝酒不可呢?

可能只有帶着清醒的醉意,才可以走到這個世界的對面,在那個幽冥的地方好好看回這裡。

It turned out that I was always alone when the true taste of wine spread across my tongue and genuinely touched my soul. A lone sommelier is like a life connoisseur; though not everything is entirely related to wine, they both enjoy the smallest details of life and indulge in every precious moment of thinking. The aroma of wine fills my mouth, slowly taking over the nasal cavity, and eventually envelops my entire body. My lips gently touch the edge of the Nihonshu glass as if tiptoeing on thin ice, and my mind gracefully glides across. Besides the wine, my Nihonshu glass keeps me company. I heard that Socrates was a prolific drinker, that he could drink while debating and never got drunk. Some might ask, “Why do you have to drink if you don’t want to get drunk?”

Maybe it is only with sober intoxication that one can reach the nether side of the world, and finally be able to take a good look at where they are from.

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