Masu (Japanese)
Encyclopedia
A was originally a square wooden box used to measure rice in Japan
during the feudal period. Masu existed in many sizes, typically covering the range from one to
(一斗枡 ittomasu, c. 1.8L) to five gō (五合枡 gogōmasu, c. 0.9L). One masu was supposedly enough rice to feed a person for one day.
Today masu are largely used for drinking sake, as the advent of modern rice cooker
s and a higher calorie diet in Japan has made them impractical for measuring portions of rice, and the standard size is one gō, or 0.18039L.
A small (2.5 in x 2.5 in x 2.25 in h), lidded form of masu, made of hinoki, is sold for serving pepper, salt, sugar, and other dry condiments at the table.
object that is called a "Masu Box" that can be created from a perfectly square piece of paper using the following instructions:
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
during the feudal period. Masu existed in many sizes, typically covering the range from one to
Japanese units of measurement
' is the traditional Japanese system of measurement. The name shakkanhō originates from the name of two of the units, the shaku, a unit of length, and the kan, a mass measurement.The system is Chinese in origin...
(一斗枡 ittomasu, c. 1.8L) to five gō (五合枡 gogōmasu, c. 0.9L). One masu was supposedly enough rice to feed a person for one day.
Today masu are largely used for drinking sake, as the advent of modern rice cooker
Rice cooker
A rice cooker or rice steamer is a container or kitchen appliance dedicated to cooking rice. Rice can also be cooked in general-purpose saucepans.-Overview:...
s and a higher calorie diet in Japan has made them impractical for measuring portions of rice, and the standard size is one gō, or 0.18039L.
A small (2.5 in x 2.5 in x 2.25 in h), lidded form of masu, made of hinoki, is sold for serving pepper, salt, sugar, and other dry condiments at the table.
Origami
There is an origamiOrigami
is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form...
object that is called a "Masu Box" that can be created from a perfectly square piece of paper using the following instructions:
| Step 01 | Step 02 | Step 03 | Step 04 | Step 05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crease and Return | Fold tops to centre, this is called a blinz fold after a Jewish pastry | Fold sides to centre and return | Open two corners | Fold sides to centre |
| Step 06 | Step 07 | Step 08 | Step 09 | Step 10 |
| Lift both sides and one end of the model so it becomes 3D | Fold flap to centre | raise end | Fold flap to centre | Complete |