Moi-sama Wajima-nuri Three Sake Cups

Tososan-kon
Made with the heart
Wajima-nuri lacquerware
Tososan-kon (屠蘇三献) is a ritual of drinking otoso, a medicinal sake for warding off evil spirits during New Year's, using three stacked sake cups of small, medium, and large sizes, and drinking it in three sips. Traditionally, the cups are passed from the youngest to the oldest person while reciting, If one person drinks this, the family will have no suffering; if the family drinks this, no one within a ri will fall ill, wishing for good health and longevity.
Key Points of Tososan-kon
Drinking Order: Traditionally, it is drunk from the youngest to the oldest, as if getting younger each year (this may vary by region or household).
How to Use the Cups:
Small Cup (smallest): Take a small sip the first time, a small sip the second time, and drink it all the third time.
Medium Cup (middle): Take a small sip the first time, a small sip the second time, and drink it all the third time.
Large Cup (largest): Take a small sip the first time, a small sip the second time, and drink it all the third time.
Words to Recite: If one person drinks this, the family will have no suffering; if the family drinks this, no one within a ri will fall ill.
Simplified Method: If you do not have stacked cups, it is acceptable to pour otoso into a single cup three times and drink it in three separate sips.
Meaning and Origin
Meaning: It means to slaughter (屠 - toso) evil spirits and revive (蘇 - so) good spirits, and is a custom to ward off the year's misfortunes and wish for good health and longevity.
Origin: It became popular among aristocrats during the Heian period, and in the imperial court, three types of medicine called otoso, hakusan, and dosho-san were consumed.
In Recent Years
While some households avoid sharing sake cups for hygiene reasons, the concept of sankon, drinking in three stages, is valued as a basic ritual.