This soba choko cup, used as a dipping bowl when eating soba, comes with a small  condiment plate that is used to put finely cut spring onions and wasabi for the dipping sauce. The plate can also be used as a lid or a coaster as well.  

The finely painted design on the cup and the plate is a checkered pattern, known as ichimatsu. Its design of squares and rectangles arranged in a simple grid pattern is known as an auspicious pattern with the meanings of "eternity," "development," and "prosperity" because of its uninterrupted and endless image.