升 means 'measure'

Just one kanji in this bundle includes a "saké" radical (oddly enough!), but saké flows liberally through all four essays, which collectively soak you in Japanese drinking culture. They showcase containers of alcohol, from tiny "choko" cups and wooden "masu" boxes to barrels of saké, and ways of measuring these liquids. The essays focus on the role of alcohol in celebrations (especially at the new year) and in rituals to honor the dead. Japanese expectations around drinking become clear, including the importance of refilling another person's glass and even the ritual of exchanging cups. Kanpai!

As these essays amply demonstrate, squares delineate much of life in Japan. Two tatami mats placed side by side form a square, and those squares (坪) constitute units of measurements, whether of floor space or land area. Ceilings traditionally have lattice patterns. Students write in squares on grid paper. People drink saké from wooden masu boxes. Japanese wells are typically square, and the shape of a well ledge has inspired all kinds of hashtag-like designs from famous corporate logos to family crests to fabric patterns. These essays will have you thinking inside the box!