Edo Kiriko is attractive for its delicate design and brilliance.
Created using techniques passed down since the Edo period,
It is a traditional craft that symbolizes Japanese handiwork.

Edo Kiriko is a well-known glass.
Do you know the process of how it is made?
Here, we will introduce the manufacturing process for Kiriko.
We will introduce the thoughts of the artisans that are put into their delicate handiwork.

The typical manufacturing process of Edo Kiriko

1. Dividing up
The glass is placed on a rotating stand called a "waridashi" (a stand for dividing the glass into smaller pieces).
Draw lines with a marker to serve as cutting guides .

2. Rough grinding
Draw thick lines along the lines that form the outline of the design.
The stone is cut by pressing it against a rotating stone wheel called a "diamond wheel."
The wheels used in the rough grinding stage are:
Use a coarse-grained tool that can carve patterns deeply and quickly.

3. Third call
Change to a finer-grit wheel than the one used for rough cutting and cut the same area again.
Smooths out rough cut surfaces.

4. Cut out the pattern
Diamond wheels are changed according to the pattern and characteristics.
We add detailed decorations using traditional patterns and original designs.

5. Polishing and completion
After cutting, the glass still has a rough surface.
Polished by hand or with acid.
Hand polishing is done with a cork, rubber or bristle brush wheel.
A traditional method of polishing by tracing the cut.
Acid polishing is a technique that uses chemicals to dissolve the surface and finish it.
You can polish multiple glasses at once efficiently.
Through this process, the cut glass that shines in the light is finally completed.

Artisan Interview — How Edo Kiriko is made

Now, from here,
Nemoto Glass Crafts, a 3-generation glass crafts store in Kameido, Tokyo
An interview with second generation owner, Tatsuya Nemoto.
We asked him about his thoughts and attitude towards Edo Kiriko every day.

——In creating beautiful Edo Kiriko glass,
What do you value most?

"From the very beginning, every production is about being uncompromising.
And so that the next step will be completed beautifully,
Don't cut corners in the previous step. By not neglecting anything,
The final result will be different.

For example, first, there are air bubbles and iron powder in the glass (base) material.
We check to see if there are any impurities (fragments of the pot that melts glass) and we check without compromising.
When indexing, he pays attention to even the tip of the pen he uses.
As you use a pen, it will inevitably become crushed and the lines you draw will become thicker.
The indexing is a guide for cutting,
If the lines are too thick it will be difficult to get the center.
So, when we feel like something is starting to get worn out, we make a new one."

--So, what part of the production process do you pay the most attention to?

"Everything. Again,
The previous process influences the next process,
While concentrating on the task at hand, I also think about the next step.
We will go through each step carefully.
It is fundamental for a professional to
I think it’s important to be considerate until the very end.”

--So, what is the most difficult part of processing?

“Is it processing of dark-colored glass (fabric)?
The glass used for Kiriko is thicker towards the bottom,
The thicker it is, the thicker and darker the color coverage will be.
This makes it difficult to see the lines made during indexing and the position of the diamond wheel blade on the other side of the glass.
Kiriko is made by cutting the glass along lines drawn from the inside to the outside.
The fact that the lines and blade position are hard to see means
It also becomes difficult to get to the center and cut evenly.

So the darker the glass, the
I'm careful about cutting.
Black Edo Kiriko and other items
I think this is a piece that tests the skill and experience of the craftsman."

--As an Edo Kiriko craftsman, when do you feel joy?

"In our workshop,
Many customers have been fans since the previous (first) generation of the product,
People with such discerning eyes say, "It's just like the previous generation."
I feel relieved when someone says this to me.
The things that our predecessors valued, such as polishing and difficult curves,
I think we have been able to pass it on properly."

--Finally, what can we learn from Edo Kiriko?
Please tell us what you would like to tell your customers.

"You can drink it, or you can just display it and look at it.
It can also be used as a gift.
For those who pick it up,
If the best time is spent with that Edo Kiriko,
This is our dream as Edo Kiriko craftsmen.
Just because it's called a "rock glass"
I don't think you have to use it exactly like that.
The creator does not decide the use,
If the person who got it uses it freely,
That's what makes us most happy."

* * *

How was it?
How is the thing in front of you made?
Also, what kind of thoughts were behind its creation?
Just a glimpse can change the way you perceive things.