Soup Segregation

Let me get this little "only inJapan" (I hope) rant about my bakery experience off my chest.
Not new to anyone who has been here, but still:

Me: a coffee to go please! And I'll just take the cup. I don't need the bag thanks.

Bakery lady: of course, here you go.
(hands me the coffee in the white cup above)

Me: ouch! That's hot! Excuse me, do you have any of those cardboard sleeve things?

BL: oh I'm very sorry, no we don't have them.

Me: (looks at stack of red cups right in front of me,which are styrofoam coated to insulate and prevent burning) could I maybe have one of those, please?

BL: oh no, they're for the soup.

Me: but this is hot too!

BL: sorry, shall I put it in a box and a bag for you as usual?

Me: no thank you, I want to drink it now, while it is hot. I just want to hold it without burning my fingers . (she looks "komatta", as if trying to find a solution to this difficult problem) .....

Ok, never mind I'll just put up with it..

BL: oh.... (asks manager with a glance, who nods as if ok-ing something really risky) OK, if you're really sure you could put up with a soup cup... Here you are.

Me: thank you so much, you've been really helpful.




Sigh.....
I will add that we were both perfectly polite and pleasant throughout this exchange, and the lady is not particularly stupid. It's just that coffee is coffee and soup is soup in Japan, and suggesting that they are both just hot is just as strange to them as the above was for me.
Culture shock never ends.....