Satsuma Kiriko Glass

Satsuma Kiriko Glass is a type of glassware produced in the Kagoshima Prefecture. Satsuma Kiriko is known for its delicate, overlaid beautiful colored glass. The glass originated during the Edo period when it was first produced by the powerful Satsuma Clan. Feudal lord Shimazu Narioki gathered the best glass craftsmen available in order to create a new type of glass. This resulted in the popular Satsuma Kiriko glass used today. He and his son Nariakira were very proud of the glassware, but the production of Satsuma Kiriko began to cease in the early Meiji period when Nariakira passed away. It was not until 1985 when a researcher and a glass artisan decided to work together with a glass factory to successfully reproduced the glassware.

Although once a lost art, Satsuma Kiriko is a popular form of glassware purchased by the local Japanese people and tourists alike. Today, Satsuma Kiriko is made reproducing old styles of Satsuma Kiriko while also incorporating new colors, patterns, and designs. Related to Satsuma Kiriko, there's also Edo Kiriko Glass which can be differentiated by the layering of the colors. Satsuma Kiriko overlays and covers the glass with color, while Edo Kiriko has the colors appear at the top of the glass. With stunning designs and breathtaking cuts, Kiriko Glass continues to be a cherished souvenir from Japan.

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