＜Sumida-Ku＞ Meeting the Artisans of Japan Tatsuo Hirota – Sumida Edo Kiriko Glassware

The craftspeople who have sustained everyday life in Japan. From master to apprentice, traditional techniques have been passed down through the generations. These skills live on in the hands of the artisans who continue them. Throughout Japan’s long history, these craftspeople have played an essential role. This series highlights the artistry of their work and the dedication that drives these artisans.
This time, we feature Edo Kiriko glassware artisan, Tatsuo Hirota.

Text : Sasaki Takashi ／ Photos : 菅原孝司　Koji Sugawara ／ English Version : Judy Evans

Keyword : Edo Kiriko ／ Sumida ／ Meeting the Artisans of Japan Series ／ Tokyo ／ Artisans ／ Shopping ／ Edo ／ Glassware

From Tools to Traditions: Supporting the Hidden Hands of Traditional Craft

Edo Kiriko craftsmen use a grinding wheel to carve intricate patterns into the glass. Different grindstones are used to suit the intricacy of the detail.

Situated within full view of the Tokyo Skytree tower, Sumida Edo Kiriko Museum draws crowds daily, welcoming visitors to experience the beauty of Edo kiriko, a traditional glass craft that dates back almost two centuries to the late Edo period. This combined workshop and retail space was opened by Hirota Glass, a company with a 120-year history, to help preserve the tradition of craftsmanship in Tokyo.“Glassmaking has developed as a local industry in Tokyo since the Meiji era,” explains Tatsuo Hirota of Hirota Glass. “Within that growth, hand-blown glass and Edo Kiriko became the focus of efforts to preserve artisanal techniques, particularly among manufacturers. Edo kiriko has been officially recognized as both a traditional craft and a regional brand, with continued support for its protection and growth.”
Sumida Edo Kiriko Museum includes a viewing window onto the workshop, allowing visitors to observe the techniques of kiriko artisans up close, and to gain a deeper appreciation for the value of their craft.

(Left) Edo kiriko artisan Kozo Kawai at work in the workshop. A specialized machine is used to mark out the pattern (Right). Visitors can watch the cutting process and observe the artisans’ skilled techniques through the viewing window built into the retail space.

The facility also offers workshops, giving visitors the chance to try their hand at kiriko and to deepen their interest in the craft. Listening to feedback from users, the team is also working to explore new design needs and potential uses for kiriko in modern life.

“It’s encouraging to see more young people aspiring to become kiriko artisans,”
says Hirota. “However, traditional crafts won’t survive unless they’re sustained as an industry. It’s not enough just to support the artisans who do the cutting – we also need to preserve the craftspeople who make the raw materials and tools. If that foundation crumbles, the whole craft is at risk. That’s why it’s so important to develop new markets.”

Sumida Edo Kiriko Museum carries this mission forward, serving as a hub for both preservation and innovation.。

Many Edo kiriko patterns draw inspiration from nature or traditional motifs found in kimono designs.

Left: “Nanako”, a pattern of fine dots symbolizing fish roe – a symbol of abundance. Right: “Kikutsunagi”, a motif inspired by chrysanthemum flowers.

Sparking Interest by Opening the Workshop to the Public

Kozo Kawai, an Edo kiriko artisan at the Sumida Edo Kiriko Museum, has been working in the craft for 29 years. On a typical day, he can make about six glasses. Creating kiriko is far more time-consuming and labour-intensive than one might imagine. He says that the sense of responsibility and fulfillment that comes from crafting something by hand is immense. However, Kawai-san is concerned about the future of Edo kiriko:

“I feel that we don’t really have a proper system set up for encouraging young people into the craft,” he says. “Although people who are truly passionate will find their way regardless, Edo kiriko artisans are getting older and, unfortunately, we haven’t really managed to cultivate the next generation to hand the craft onto. Looking ahead, I hope that among junior high schoolers, some will develop an interest in the craft. It would be wonderful if showing my work could help spark that interest.”

Inside the Sumida Edo Kiriko Museum retail store. Approximately 350 items are on display and for sale, ranging from exquisite pieces by kiriko artists to everyday functional glassware.

A variety of Edo kiriko pieces can be viewed, ranging from those that replicate the texture and colors of Edo-period glass to those inspired by the Tokyo Skytree. From left to right: Edo-period replica – Small bowl with base; Purple – Sake cup with Tokyo Skytree pattern; Blue – Tall goblet with auspicious pine, bamboo, and plum motif; Red – Old-fashioned glass with hexagonal lattice pattern; Blue – Toasting glass with seven treasures linking pattern.

Tatsuo Hirota

Tatsuo Hirota is the third-generation head and Chairman of Hirota Glass. He also designs Edo kiriko patterns himself. At the store, he pays careful attention to customer feedback and plays an active role in product development.

The Origins of Edo Kiriko

Edo Kiriko is said to have originated between 1830 and 1844 in Edo/Tokyo, when Kyubei Kagaya, a glass merchant in the Nihonbashi area, began engraving decorative patterns onto imported glassware introduced by European traders. This technique has been passed down through the generations and, today, glassware cut and finished in Tokyo is collectively known as Edo kiriko.
An advertisement (similar to a modern-day catalogue) published by Kyubei Kagaya showcases the range of glassware sold at the time. It reveals that, even in the Edo period, there was a flourishing trade in various types of glassware, including tableware, scientific glassware, everyday household items, and even goldfish bowls.
(Source: Sumida Edo Kiriko Museum website)

Edo Kiriko – Sumida Edo Kiriko Museum

2-10-9 Taihei, Sumida City, Tokyo, Japan

☎03-3623-4148