Satsuma kiriko cut glass

Kagoshima City

Brilliant cut glass developed by the former Satsuma Domain.

Satsuma kiriko cut glass is characterized by its deep, vivid coloring and delicate cutting. Satsuma kiriko was developed during the Edo period at the urging of the head of the former Satsuma Domain; together with Edo kiriko, Satsuma kiriko is one of Japan’s most famousdomestic glass arts. The biggest differences with Edo kiriko are that Satsuma kiriko incorporates the aesthetic sensibilities of foreign nations such as Holland and that fact that it was a favorite of the upper classes, including the ancient feudal lords themselves. Edo kiriko utilizes clear and thinly colored glass cut with other hues. Conversely, Satsuma kiriko is richly and vividly colored, and the gradations this coloring creates are what make this glass art particularly attractive.

A vanished tradition revived just 30 years ago.

Although developed in the Edo period, due to local historical events such as the Anglo-Satsuma War, the workshop which produced Satsuma kiriko closed after only a few short decades in operation. For over 100 years from that time, no one could make Satsuma kiriko. The movement to resurrect this lost art began in 1985. The artisans of the Satsuma Glass Kogei workshop and others used existing examples of Satsuma kiriko and documents from the period to bring the technique back to life.

Gradations, designs, and hues... Know the love that goes into kiriko at the workshop.

Satsuma Glass Kogei also has its own gallery and shop. The workshop is located behind these, and visitors can observe skilled artisans as they ply their craft here. With a keen gaze, the artisans craft Satsuma kiriko pieces from start to finish in one session – from striking to cutting the rough design, smoothing, and polishing. Each piece of Satsuma Kiriko is not the product of any single artisan but rather the merging of the all the artisans involved in each stage of the production process. After watching them hard at work, you’re sure to love any Satsuma kiriko you bring home with you even more.

For reference

Satsuma Glass Kogei

Address

9688-24 Yoshino-cho, Kagoshima-shi, Kagoshima-ken
Telephone

099−247−2111
Opening hours

8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.
Closed

No regular days of closure
Website

http://www.satsumakiriko.co.jp/index.html

Access

Kagoshima Airport is a 115 minute flight from Haneda Airport

Kagoshima Airport is a 75 minute flight from Osaka International Airport
Kagoshima Airport is a 95 minute flight from Chubu Centrair International Airport
Kagoshima Airport is a 75 minute flight from Naha Airport

Kagoshima-Chuo Station is 40 minutes by Kagoshima City bus from Kagoshima Airport.