The Metropolitan Museum's eggplant-shaped sake bottle
Ever wondered why a simple eggplant shows up in museum collections? The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York lists a sake bottle shaped like an eggplant in its collection, and that object connects museum visitors to Japanese New Year traditions. The Met's page has photos and curatorial notes that show how everyday forms became objects of art. No wonder, pottery and functional ceramics often adopted playful shapes in the Edo and Meiji periods, turning mundane items into conversation pieces.
What most people don't know is that the Met item isn't just a novelty. It helps tell a story about visual culture and seasonal symbolism in Japan, the same story you'll see repeated in prints, postcards, and sake vessels. Wait, there's more.
The saying: "First Mount Fuji, second a hawk, third an eggplant"
What most people don't know is that the proverb Ichi-Fuji, Ni-taka, San-nasubi (一富士二鷹三茄子) ranks desirable first dreams for the New Year. For learners, that's hatsuyume (初夢, hatsuyume), the first dream of the year, thought to predict luck for the coming months. For example, seeing Mount Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant in your hatsuyume is supposed to be very auspicious.
The phrase's order matters, and people repeat it every New Year. No exaggeration, merchants and artists capitalised on the saying by producing prints and goods that showcased the three images, so you end up seeing eggplants alongside famous vistas and birds in New Year cards. Sounds good, right?
Where the proverb might come from
The first time I went to Japan, I heard several theories about the proverb's origin. One theory links Mount Fuji's shape and sacred status, another praises the hawk for its samurai associations, and a third suggests eggplants (nasubi, 茄子) were prized for their shape and homophony with the verb nasu, meaning to achieve. That brings us to the idea that the wordplay boosted the eggplant's fortune.
How the eggplant became a New Year motif
Fun fact: eggplants appear on nengajo, woodblock prints, and sake vessels as part of New Year iconography. The visual trio of Fuji, hawk, and eggplant provided a neat composition for artists and a handy motif for craft makers. Seriously though, the eggplant's visual simplicity made it ideal for stylised ceramics like the Met's tokkuri, the small vessel used for sake.
I still remember exactly seeing an ukiyo-e print with the three images arranged like a lucky checklist. My tip? If you're learning kanji, write the phrase 一富士二鷹三茄子 and say it aloud; it helps cement both meaning and pronunciation. Insider tip: nasubi (茄子) is a useful vocabulary word because it appears in food, idioms, and seasonal references.
What the museum object teaches language learners
The first time I went to an art museum in Japan, I realised tangible objects teach vocabulary and culture at the same time. Handling or closely viewing an eggplant-shaped tokkuri lets you connect the word nasubi to its actual form and use. That reminds me, pairing words with objects is a top learning hack whether you're studying with flashcards or on a museum visit.
What I especially like is that the Met provides contextual captions, so learners can read about the artist, medium, and provenance while seeing how material culture preserves folklore. My verdict? Museums make cultural grammar feel alive, not just abstract notes in a textbook.
Collecting, gifting, and modern echoes
Direct address: If you collect Japan-related items, an eggplant motif makes a playful addition to New Year displays or your study desk. No wonder, collectors value both story and aesthetics, and the proverb gives the item an instant narrative to share with friends. Wait, there's more.
For example, modern nengajo and seasonal goods still reference Ichi-Fuji, Ni-taka, San-nasubi, and you can find contemporary ceramics and prints that echo the old compositions. Not bad, right?
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is an eggplant considered lucky in Japan?
Short answer: It's part of a traditional ranking for the first dream of the year, with eggplant being one of three auspicious images alongside Mount Fuji and a hawk.
Can I find eggplant motifs in Japanese museums?
Short answer: Yes, museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art collect objects, including sake bottles and ceramics, that use eggplant motifs as part of New Year or seasonal decoration.
