When choosing your favorite glassware, there's joy in comparing each piece to find the perfect one just for you.
Muromachi Glassworks Obi Keshizarai Tenkai ¥41,800
Once you've found such a cherished piece, you'll want to use it for a long time in the most beautiful condition possible. However, if you let it air dry after washing, water stains may remain, or if you wash it with your usual sponge, fine scratches may appear. These water stains and scratches can cause the glass to lose its original transparency and brilliance.
Yokoyama Kogyo Co., Ltd. Birdy. Glass Towel M size ¥2,310
That's why we recommend BIRDY. glass towels and glass sponges. BIRDY. is a brand developed by Yokoyama Kogyo Co., Ltd., an automotive parts manufacturer in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, and is used by professionals, including bartenders.
Muromachi Glassworks Obi Keshizarai Tenkai ¥41,800
First, the glass towel features high absorbency and minimal lint. At first glance, it looks like a smooth microfiber cloth, but it has about three times the absorbency of a typical cloth. It doesn't snag on delicate handmade glasses and can quickly wipe away water droplets.
Yuji Nakano Crushed Vase ¥6,600
While cotton dishcloths are excellent at absorbing water, they tend to leave fine fibers on glasses. In contrast, BIRDY. glass towels are lint-free and can quickly wipe glasses beautifully clean. They dry quickly, so you can use them comfortably every day.
Yokoyama Kogyo Co., Ltd. Birdy. Glass Sponge ¥1,210
And the staff at our shop were surprised by the sponge.
If oil residue or fine scratches remain on the glass surface, its precious shine will be lost. The BIRDY. sponge softens when it absorbs water, and gently washes delicate cut glass with its fine lather. It hardens when dry, making it a hygienic material that resists bacterial growth.
The washed glasses gleam so brightly they're almost mesmerizing. We regularly wash the products in our store, and seeing that sparkle of glass has become a secret pleasure for our staff.
Shimada Shinpei casting frame ¥52,800 *In-store only
harunasugie SHIBOU ring ¥17,600~
As part of the Tsuchiya Kaban Group, we have valued "taking care of and using things for a long time" for our glass business, just as we do for leather bags, since its inception. After trying various care products, we arrived at the Japanese-made BIRDY.
Carefully washing and polishing your favorite glassware. This extra effort seems to deepen our attachment to the vessels and enrich our lives even further.
Text: Mai Yamamoto, Photos: Hiroki Sano
This article is a re-publication of a newsletter distributed on July 31, 2026. Please note that product availability and prices may have changed.
