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Japan: A traditional bucket-shaped rice measure or itto masu

Japan: A traditional bucket-shaped rice measure or itto masu

A masu (枡升) was originally a square wooden box used to measure rice in Japan during the feudal period. Masu existed in many sizes, typically covering the range from one to (一斗枡 ittomasu, c. 18L) to one gō (一合枡 ichigōmasu, c. 0.18L).

Dry measures are units of volume used to measure bulk commodities which are not gas or liquid. They are typically used in agriculture, agronomy, and commodity markets to measure grain, dried beans, and dried and fresh fruit (e.g. a peck of apples is a retail unit); formerly also salt pork and fish. They are also used in fishing for clams, crabs, etc. and formerly for many other substances.

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