HEXa is an upgrade on the traditional wooden square sake cup “masu,” which has 1,300 years of history in Japan. The product actively seeks out three Hiroshima-produced lumber that have steadily declined in recent years: hinoki cypress, stiff-leaved juniper and Japanese bigleaf magnolia. All three species are valuable for their beautiful wood grain, refreshing aroma and high durability and water resistance. The round outer edge evokes the notion of “forever,” and the parts are joined by a method called “irikumi,” which is also wordplay with “oiri” (full house). Fittingly, the product has been popular for Japanese cultural events such as Japanese-style weddings and cherry blossom viewing. By not limiting the material to hinoki cypress, the product actually has a wider range of use as wooden tableware. While the conventional square masu can be hard to drink from, HEXa’s combination of hexagon and circles, shapes frequently found in nature, results in a beautiful and modern design that is also easy to grip and fits along the mouth, even for women and children. Due to the hexagonal shape, it requires the expertise of artisans with skilled woodworking techniques to join the parts without any space. Through numerous trial and error with artisans, each process from cutting to joining and polishing is done by hand to create this remarkable product of craftsmanship and philosophy.