Introducing Edo kiriko
Edo Kiriko is a traditional Japanese Hand-cut glass craft that traces its origins to 1834, when the Edo-period artisan Kyubei Kagaya engraved patterns onto glass using garnet powder.
During the early Meiji period, the English glassmaker Emanuel Hauptmann introduced advanced Western cutting techniques to Japanese craftsmen, contributing significantly to the development of the craft.
The Birthplace of the Modern Glass Industry in japan
Kitashinaga Tokyo,
Adopting European Hand-cut glass technology, Japanese artisans developed it in their own way as part of the culture of merchants and common people, combining with traditional Japanese patterns expressed in the four seasons, particularly, patterns of plants used in kimono, the traditional Japanese costume.
Throughout its history, the edo kiriko has endured the devastation of the Great Kanto Earthquake and World War II, its legacy proudly carried forward to this day.
Today, Edo Kiriko is produced in Tokyo and the surrounding areas.
Japanese craft（kogei）
Throughout Japan, there are cultures rooted in long histories and local traditions, and each region boasts crafts shaped by the skills and aesthetic sensibilities of local artisans.
In Japanese, these are called “kogei”—a term that encompasses a wide range of practices, from long‑standing regional crafts to everyday forms of workmanship that remain deeply rooted in local culture.
Among these diverse traditions, only those that meet specific criteria are designated as Traditional Crafts by the national or local governments.
Edo Kiriko is officially designated as a Traditional Craft of Japan gov and Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
Shimizu Glass is a member of the Edo Kiriko Cooperative Association, the official organization for Edo Kiriko.
Process
EDO KIRIKO Production Process
Each piece of Edo Kiriko is created through a precise and time-honored sequence of techniques passed down through generations of artisans.
1. WARIDASHI (Design Marking) The artisan draws guiding lines directly onto the glass. This initial step determines the overall structure of the pattern.
2. ARAZURI (Rough Cutting) The glass is carefully pressed against a rotating diamond wheel to carve the primary, deep cuts that define the design.
3. NAKAZURI (Intermediate Cutting) A finer diamond wheel is used to refine the cuts. Artisans select wheels of various sizes and profiles to create detailed and intricate patterns. Historically, many craftsmen made their own cutting wheels.
4. ISHIKAKE (Stone Polishing) Natural or artificial polishing stones are applied to smooth the carved surfaces, restoring a translucent quality to the glass.
5. MIGAKI (Final Polishing) Wood or felt wheels, combined with polishing compounds, are used to bring clarity and brilliance to the cut surfaces. A final polish with a finer compound produces a clean, lustrous finish.
6. Washing & Inspection The piece is thoroughly washed to remove any remaining polishing material, then carefully inspected to ensure the highest level of craftsmanship.
