FOMUS MASU — Masu Branding
FOMUS is a masu brand. We build on this 1,300-year-old vessel — finishes, products, spaces, photographs and stories — and carry it abroad.
The masu is a wooden cup that has been used in Japan since the Nara period. Born as a measuring tool for rice and sake, it evolved into a symbol of celebration and good fortune. In Japanese, the word "masu" also means "to increase" — making the cup a timeless expression of wishes for abundance.
FOMUS works to move this vessel from something used inside Japan to something that can be used anywhere in the world — keeping the natural scent and antibacterial quality of hinoki cypress intact.
Our work is to give this vessel new uses and new stories, and to take it outside Japan. How far can one vessel go? We push it in three directions.
Waterproof coating, gold foil, laser engraving, branding irons. A masu a restaurant can wash every day, a masu fit for a state reception, a masu that carries a name in another language. Each finish widens where the vessel can be used.
Jewelry, auspicious objects, architectural walls, photo books, regional gifts. From one vessel, a family of brands has grown, each with a shape of its own.
Japanese embassy receptions, cultural events abroad, communities on the ground. We bring the masu in person, put it in people's hands, and bring the response back into the next thing we make.
For FOMUS the masu is not a product but a starting point. Here is what has grown from it.
Store — buy a masu
The specialist store. Seven sizes of Japanese hinoki masu, engraving from a single piece. Before you order, we send a quote and a preview of the finished engraving, free.
masu.fomus.jp ↗
Architecture — build with masu
One-go masu supplied as modules for walls, partitions and columns. At a gallery on Sagishima island, Hiroshima, we built a wall from roughly 300 of them.
See the masu wall ›
Jewelry — wear a masu
Jewelry built around the world's smallest hinoki masu, with walls 1.6mm thick. Assembled by hand using the traditional arare-gumi joint, ten pieces a month.
See KUMIKI ›
Photography — shoot the world with a masu
An ongoing photo project: portraits taken with a masu in hand across 20 countries. Twelve photo books, all free to read online.
masuphoto.fomus.jp ↗
Object — display a masu
An auspicious object joining the masu with the turtle, a symbol of long life. Made to order, as a gift wishing prosperity and longevity.
See MASUKAME ›
Local — make a masu the face of a place
A brand from Fuefuki, Yamanashi, named after kachiu, the local cormorant fishing done on foot. Its mark is burned into a hinoki masu and sent out with peach confiture.
kachiu.jp ↗FOMUS masu are made from offcuts of Japanese hinoki cypress once used in architecture and joinery. Rather than cutting new trees, we give material that has served its purpose a second life — a choice the brand cares about.
Offcuts of Japanese hinoki from building and joinery work are crafted into masu.
Japanese timber with a natural fragrance, a soft texture and a calm presence.
Wood shavings from production are reused as packing material, so a gentle scent of hinoki rises when you open the box.
Each option works on its own — or combine them for a fully custom piece.
01
Built for commercial use
A proprietary food-safe coating makes the masu dishwasher-safe and resistant to repeated use. Ideal for restaurants, sake bars, and hotels that need an authentic Japanese vessel for daily service.
02
Unmistakable prestige
FOMUS's proprietary gold foil technique bonds genuine gold leaf to the hinoki surface. The contrast of natural wood grain and golden brilliance makes it an exceptional choice for high-end corporate gifts and embassy presentations.
03
Precision from one piece up
Any logo, text, or illustration rendered with sharp precision. Available from a single unit — perfect for personal gifts, wedding favors, and branded corporate novelties.
04
Timeless and understated
A traditional Japanese technique using high heat. The natural wood texture stays front and center, and the mark deepens in character with age. Ideal for heritage brands and traditional aesthetics.
Combination Examples
Options can be combined: Coating + Gold Foil, Coating + Laser Engraving, Branding + Gold Foil — we'll recommend the best combination for your use case and quantity.
Dedicated masu lids are also available as an option.
From restaurant counters to diplomatic receptions, FOMUS masu fit every context.
01 — Restaurant
Waterproof coating enables repeated use and dishwasher washing. The best choice for sake bars, restaurants, and hotels.
02 — Corporate
Anniversary commemorations, VIP gifts, overseas novelties. Logo engraving and foil finishing make it a premium vessel for your brand.
03 — Celebration
Symbolizing growth and good fortune, the masu fits naturally into weddings, grand openings, and any milestone worth marking.
04 — Personal
A Japanese cultural gift for someone abroad, a commemorative piece, a decorative object. Custom engraving available from a single unit.
Case — KACHIU
KACHIU is a brand created in Fuefuki, Yamanashi by FOMUS founder Massu. It takes its name from kachiu, the local form of cormorant fishing in which the fisher wades through the river on foot, and marks a hinoki masu with a cormorant brand. It is offered alongside peach confiture made with Fuefuki-grown peaches.
Seven sizes, from 54ml to 1,800ml. Engraving from one piece for individuals, ten for companies. Before you order, we send a quote and a preview of the finished engraving, free of charge. Invoice payment and international shipping available.
Projects built on the masu, use in architecture and interiors, and presence abroad. Tell us what you have in mind and we will propose how to proceed, with a quote. For engraved masu themselves, MASU-STORE is the fastest route.
