酌 means 'bartending'

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!