Name: Sankocho Bird Cast-Iron Bottle Opener | Jutaro
Brand: kurita-sangyo
Price: 12375 JPY
Availability: InStock

Sankocho Bird Cast-Iron Bottle Opener | Jutaro

¥12,375

This is a bottle opener designed with the Prefectural Bird of Shizuoka Prefecture, the Paradise Flycatcher, as its motif.
The Paradise Flycatcher is a migratory bird with blue eyes and long tail feathers. Its distinctive call sounds like "Tsuki-hi-hoshi hoi-hoi-hoi" (moon, sun, star). It was named a bird that brings good fortune because it calls out the three lights of "moon, sun, and stars."
This product is cast in iron, with lacquer baked onto the surface to express the beauty of its dark black feathers. It is recommended not only as a bottle opener but also as an interior decoration.

Length x Width x Height (mm) 97 x 19 x 48

Cast iron 116g

Carrying Shizuoka Out Into the World — Our First Cast Piece

"Tsuki-hi-hoshi, hoi-hoi-hoi." Its call sounds enough like that — moon, sun, star — that the bird was named sankocho, the one that calls the three lights. Blue-rimmed eyes, a long sweeping tail; people have long thought of it as a bird that brings luck.

It's also Shizuoka's prefectural bird, and we cast its shape in iron. It opens bottles, but with a simple enough line that it can just sit out as a small ornament the rest of the time.

We made it hoping a bit of Shizuoka might travel out into the world. It was the first thing we cast under our own name.

Tin: A Metal People Have Used for a Thousand Years

Tin — *suzu* in Japanese — has been part of daily life for more than a thousand years. It has a soft silver-white sheen, and because the metal itself is soft, people around the world have shaped it into all kinds of things.

In Japan, tin came into use around the Edo period. People kept it inside their water jars, because tin helps keep water from going bad. It doesn't rust easily, it's non-toxic, and it's been used for tableware and sake cups ever since.

A few things make tin a little special as a vessel. Its subtle ion effect softens the flavor of tea or sake poured into it. It conducts heat quickly, so a cold drink chills the whole cup almost the moment you pour it. Some people even keep cut flowers in a tin vase — the water stays fresher for longer.

Made by Hand, One at a Time

Every Jutaro piece is cast and finished by hand, one at a time. Casting — *chūzō* — starts with a mold. We pour the melted tin in, let it cool until it sets, and then polish it by hand until it's ready.

We stick to handwork because some things really do live in the hands of the artisan, not in a machine. The small natural ripples on the surface, the soft line of a rim shaped by hand — these are the details a machine can't quite reach, and they're part of what makes a handmade piece feel different to hold.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Tin — *suzu* in Japanese — is one of those metals that's been quietly part of daily life for a long time. It has a soft silver-white sheen, it doesn't rust easily, and it's non-toxic, which is why it's been used for tableware and sake cups for centuries.

Two things make tin a little special. It's a very good conductor of heat, and it has a subtle ion effect on whatever you pour into it. Tea, beer, and sake all seem to soften — the rough edges smooth out, and cold drinks stay cold longer. Some people even keep cut flowers in a tin vase, since tin helps keep the water fresh.

One thing to know: because tin conducts heat so quickly, it's not the right choice for hot drinks.

Everyday care

- Wash soon after use. Leaving liquids sitting in tin is the main cause of discoloration. A mild dish soap and a soft sponge are all you need.
- Dry it well. Water left on the surface can cause clouding or stains, so wipe with a soft cloth right after washing.

If smells or flavors linger

Dissolve a small spoonful of baking soda in lukewarm water and let the piece soak for a short while. Then wash as usual and dry thoroughly.

If the surface clouds or darkens

A little change over time is part of tin's character — we'd usually leave it. But if it really bothers you, make a paste of baking soda and water and polish gently with a soft cloth. No scrubbing, no metal polish.

Short answer: no to both.

Tin is a metal, so the microwave is out. And tin is soft enough that we don't recommend the dishwasher either — the high-heat drying cycle can change the surface, and the water pressure plus knocking against other dishes can scratch or even bend a piece out of shape.

A quick hand wash is really all it needs.