Post #516489 by Unkle John on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 7:46 AM

I stumbled across this site a few years ago. I had thought it was posted here, but probably got wrapped up in something & it slipped my mind. I do apologize for not posting that sooner. But anyways, I'm grateful that someone put a site like that up. It's actually a very interesting read if you are into the Oriental culture and such. It was a great to read some of the back stories of some of the lesser known mugs (like the Canoe Boy and the Daruma mugs). The only ones I would be willing to buy if seen would be the dragon, snake, samurai, and ninja. If you look at page 2, they have their explanation of "What it is and it ain't". It's um... yeah.

I used to have the Benihana mugs in my collection, but gave them to my sister in law who was decorating her home in an oriental style. I bought some of them because they were the only things I could find in a dry spell (and for a few cents), a few were given by friends who stumbled across them at junk shops. I needed the shelf room where they sat and she was happy to get them, so it all worked out in the long run.

I do come across them more often than regular mugs and such. It's actually a frustration to me when I search all over town, and a Benihana mug is the only thing I come across. I leave them for some frat boy to buy and turn into a bong or something. That's not to say that I shun them for being what they are, it's just the magnitude that I find them, it would be futile to collect them with the limited wall space I have. I also find that though they may look good on a shelf, you really don't get a lot of drink out of them. Some mugs would be only an old fashioned sized helping.

But I say if you like them, collect them, if you don't, leave them for someone else to find.