The vase from the workshop of Katō Mokuzaemon II represents the best of late Seto region production. It combines the congratulatory motif of the crane, a traditional symbol of endurance and longevity, and “the friends of winter”, i.e. pine and bamboo, motif. The evergreen pine tree is a symbol of resiliency and longevity, and so is the prunus, whose early cultivars can survive even in very cold weather. The third “friend of winter” is bamboo, which – with pine and prunus – is another traditional part of Japanese New Year decorations. The vase’s decorative composition is therefore based on traditional Chinese and Japanese landscape painting and combines classic congratulatory “winter” motifs.