Edo Kiriko

Edo Kiriko is a glass craft that has been handed down in Edo(present-day Tokyo). in 1824, Kyubei Kagaya started exploring the technique of cutting patterns into the surface of glass.

Edo Kiriko was fosterd in the urban culture among the townspeople, and during the Meiji era (mid-19th century), the craft introduced not only Western equipment and instruments, but also their technique while preserving traditional techniques and has been passed down to the present time.
In 1985 Edo Kiriko was designated a Traditional Craft Industry by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

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Satsuma Kiriko

At a glance, you will find the shines of Satsuma Kiriko are not as same as normal glasses, because it is a crystal glass. It shines brilliantly. It is not in no way inferior to European cut glasses. Satsuma Kiriko contains a tiny quantity of lead, as the feature of crystal glasses. Because of it, when you hold it on your hand, you can feel the certain weight of the crystal glass. Satsuma Kiriko started from imitating European cut glasses. However most cut patterns of Satsuma Kiriko are traditional Japanese patterns or typical Satsuma patterns, so it has the unique atmosphere different from European glasses. Satsuma Kiriko is a high-quality fusion of European and Asian culture. The largest attraction of Satsuma Kiriko is Bokashi, the gradation of colored glass to non-colored glass. The beauty of Bokashi in Satsuma Kiriko can not see in European cut glasses. Usually cut glasses has double layers, white-clear glass being covered by colored glass, and when cut angle becomes small, the gradation becomes large, and when cut angle becomes large, the gradation becomes small. Each cut has delicate difference to describe beautiful Bokashies. And also sound of Satsuma Kiriko is beautiful. When you hit it by your nail, it ringing the keening metallic sound. It is clearly different from normal glasses.

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