The Kaminarimon gate with a giant red lantern is the main entrance to Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo. This hasn’t changed since a long time ago. On either side of the gate, two statues are still enshrined: the wind god on the right and the thunder god on the left.
This vermilion lacquered wine cup has a maki-e (sprinkled metal decoration) design, depicting a shopping street leading to the temple from the gate, on the interior surface.
On the exterior, it bears a maki-e inscription, ‘雷神門(gate of thunder god)/ 可交斎(Kakosai).’ The creator, Shirai Kakosai, is thought to have been a member of the Kajikawa family of maki-e artists who were employed by the Tokugawa shogunate. Hence this cup is considered to be a gift from the shogun family.