Cut Patterns Into an Edo Glass Matcha Bowl & Experience the Radiance of Glass

One of Tokyo’s Rare Workshops Crafting Edo Glass

Established in 1946, Nakakin Glass Company Limited is one of the rare workshops in Tokyo dedicated to producing Edo glass. The company is credited with the invention of "Edo color overlay blow glass" (Edo Irogise glass), made by blowing two different colors of glass on top of each other. With the many color combination possibilities, this method means that glassware of the same shape can look and feel completely different, showcasing the depth of the material.

Nakakin Glass Company Limited not only produces Edo glass but also cuts it in-house. Their product range includes sake cups and wine glasses, and are sought after not only for personal use but also for gifts thanks to their beauty.

Handcrafted by Skilled Artisans

Tokyo boasts a renowned glass-producing heritage, with glass manufacturing evolving into a local industry that has given rise to the traditional craft of Edo glass. At Nakakin Glass Company Limited, each piece is handmade by artisans using the chubuki (air blowing) or katabuki (mold blowing) techniques. This approach ensures that even pieces of the same color and shape vary slightly in hue and form.

The faceting process involves cutting the glass surface with a diamond disc to create an array of patterns. These patterns mainly feature traditional symbols associated with good such as kagome (basket eyes) and grapes, used for good luck since ancient times.

Before learning to cut glass, you will first watch a video of an artisan creating Edo glass, showing the artisanal technique of layering two glass sheets on top of each other with perfect timing. Listening to the explanation enhances your connection to the Edo glass you will hold during the experience. Depending on the day, you might even have the opportunity to visit the workshop in person.

Pick Your Preferred Shade from "Clear Sky" and “Clear Green"

The glass cutting experience takes place in the store connected to the workshop. When selecting a matcha bowl, you have the option of either the "clear sky” or the "clear green” color. Guide lines for cutting are applied in advance through a process known as marking. The chosen pattern for this project is a lattice pattern symbolizing "warding off evil spirits," a Wabunka exclusive design. Each matcha bowl is prepared in advance by skilled artisans, with guide elements already in place.

At the bottom is a chrysanthemum pattern. By cutting all the way to the bottom, the shadows look beautiful when the light passes through. One of the joys of this experience is discovering the ingenuity born from the accumulation of tradition.

The Beauty Created by Repeated Cutting

You will then move on to the glass cutting process, beginning with the "rough rubbing" step, where the bowl is positioned against the blade of a rotating diamond disc and rubbed along the previously drawn guide lines. An artisan will perform a demonstration before you start.

The last step is the polishing process. This involves polishing the recently cut part using another blade, increasing the transparency of the cut area. This is a rare chance to experience cutting glass using a special machine, and offers an exciting moment to witness the lattice pattern gradually emerge on the surface of Edo glass.
Your matcha bowl, carefully completed during the session, can be taken home with you the same day.