stationeryJuly 03, 2026

Edo Kiriko

Edo Kiriko (江戸切子) is a glassware craft produced in Sumida Ward and Koto Ward, Tokyo, since 1834, designated as a Traditional Craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2002.

History

Edo Kiriko is said to have originated in 1834 when Kagaya Kyubei of a glass shop in Edo Odenmacho used emery to engrave patterns on glass surfaces. Kagaya Kyubei, also known as Kaga-Kyu, had branched off from Kagaya (Kaga-Kichi), a glass and eyeglass wholesaler in Nihonbashi Toriaburacho, to begin cut glass work.

In 1873, Japan's first glass factory, the Shinagawa Kogyo-sha Glass Manufacturing Plant, was established as part of the Meiji government's industrial promotion policy. The facility was purchased by the Ministry of Public Works in 1876 and renamed the Shinagawa Glass Manufacturing Works. In 1881, British cut glass craftsman Emanuel Hauptmann was invited to Japan as a foreign advisor, and several Japanese craftsmen studied under him; this period of study established the traditional techniques that continue to the present day.

Following the Meiji period, the decline of Satsuma Kiriko led to the transfer of craftsmen and techniques to Edo, broadening the craft's technical repertoire. During World War II, production was restricted as a peacetime industry and craftsmen were mobilized for military glass production, including fighter aircraft glass processing. After the war, companies such as Hoya Glass (now HOYA Crystal), which converted from military optical lenses to glass tableware, were among those involved in the industry's recovery.

Around 1965, the various names previously used for the craft — including Gyaman, Kiriko, and Cut Glass — were unified under the name Edo Kiriko to promote consistent branding. The craft was designated as a Tokyo Metropolitan Traditional Craft in 1985. In 2002, it received national designation as a Traditional Craft Product. On September 3, 2007, Edo Kiriko was recognized as a regional resource under the Small and Medium Enterprise Regional Resources Utilization Promotion Law, and on October 9, 2007, it was registered as a regional collective trademark.

July 5 was established as Edo Kiriko Day in 2008, based on a wordplay related to the traditional Nanako pattern. That same year, THE ALFEE's Kozozuke Sakazaki, a collector of Japanese glass and a native of Sumida Ward, was appointed as goodwill ambassador for the craft. On July 5, 2018, a letter of appreciation was presented to mark the 10th anniversary of that appointment. The Edo Kiriko Cooperative Association, formerly named the Tokyo Cut Glass Industry Cooperative Association, is located in Ojima, Koto Ward.

Techniques & Production Process

In the late Edo period, Edo Kiriko was produced by cutting transparent lead glass using a file, metal rod, and emery, followed by polishing with a wooden rod in a hand-rubbing process. After the Meiji period, the processing method transitioned from hand-rubbing to the use of a wheel, while traditional patterns were retained.

Also following the Meiji period, the technique of using colored cased glass — previously associated with Satsuma Kiriko — was adopted in Edo Kiriko production. A distinguishing characteristic of Edo Kiriko's cased glass is that the color layer is thin and vivid, contrasting with Satsuma Kiriko's use of thick colored cased glass and deep cuts. Edo Kiriko work types include kiriko, which involves decorating glass with cut patterns, and hiramono, which encompasses flat polishing of polyhedral glasses, clock frames, ashtrays, trophies, and lenses.

How to Identify Edo Kiriko

Edo Kiriko patterns include familiar Japanese motifs also seen on kimono, such as yurai (bamboo fence), chrysanthemum, and hemp leaf patterns, cut with delicate precision. Items made with colored cased glass are more commonly produced today and represent the iconic image of the craft more so than the original transparent crystal glass. The color glass layer in Edo Kiriko is characteristically thin and vivid. The official designation spelling is Edo Kiriko (江戸切子) without the okurigana ri (り). Products designated as national traditional craft products bear a Dentou Shoshi (traditional craft label) as part of the certification system.

The Craft Today

Edo Kiriko craftsmen and workshops are centered in Koto Ward and Sumida Ward, Tokyo, and are also present in Edogawa Ward, Katsushika Ward, Ota Ward, and parts of Saitama Prefecture. The Edo Kiriko Cooperative Association, located in Ojima, Koto Ward, serves as the industry's organizational body. Edo Kiriko products can be viewed and purchased at Aoyama Square, operated by the General Incorporated Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries, located at 8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo. The venue is open from 11:00 to 19:00, year-round except for the New Year period. In 2026, the Aoyama Square website became multilingual, and a new website titled Japan Traditional Craft Artists Navigation (日本の伝統工芸士ナビ) introducing traditional craft artists was also published.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Edo Kiriko originate?

Edo Kiriko is said to have originated in 1834, when Kagaya Kyubei of a glass shop in Edo Odenmacho used emery to engrave patterns on glass surfaces.

When was Edo Kiriko designated a national Traditional Craft?

Edo Kiriko was designated as a nationally recognized Traditional Craft Product by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2002. It had previously been designated as a Tokyo Metropolitan Traditional Craft in 1985.

Where is Edo Kiriko produced?

Edo Kiriko craftsmen and workshops are centered in Koto Ward and Sumida Ward, Tokyo. Production is also present in Edogawa Ward, Katsushika Ward, Ota Ward, and parts of Saitama Prefecture.

What distinguishes Edo Kiriko from Satsuma Kiriko?

Satsuma Kiriko used thick colored cased glass, deep cuts, and bold shapes. Edo Kiriko, after adopting the cased glass technique in the Meiji period, is characterized by a thin and vivid color glass layer, and its patterns — such as chrysanthemum, hemp leaf, and bamboo fence motifs — are cut with delicate precision.