Soy Sauce
Container

Design

The sleek and simple aesthetic of this soy sauce dispenser has remained unchanged since it first appeared in 1976; its functional design quickly took off and can now be found in restaurants throughout Japan. Instead of the typical screw-on lid that pours sauce through a beak-shaped spout, this one works with a subtle but clever system; the frosted glass stopper leaves just enough room for the sauce to flow elegantly from the rim (surikuchi すり口). The smooth flowing motion not only conjures a soothing visual, but is also practical, with the stopper allowing the soy sauce to flow back into the container without spilling. This trailblazing design revolutionised the centuries-old soy sauce bottle, and was honoured with the Good Design Long Life Award 2020.