In one corner of the store, there are works that evoke spring. The pink of cherry blossoms is adorable. Kappabashi Tool Street has developed since the Taisho era as a wholesale district for the food and beverage industry, selling cooking utensils and tableware. Even today, it is lined with specialty stores selling pottery, lacquerware, knives, pots, and more, and is a tourist destination visited by people from Japan and abroad. In this town, you will find TSUCHI-YA Glassware and Crafts, where you can experience a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with glassware and crafts. Upon entering the store, you will be greeted by delicately cut Edo Kiriko glass and glass products with beautiful colors and shapes.

▲In one corner of the store, there are works that evoke spring. The cherry blossom color is adorable.

Brighten up your everyday life with special everyday items

TSUCHI-YA Glassware and Crafts is a brand operated by Isso Co., Ltd., the same company that owns Tsuchiya Bag Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Originally called "Muromachi Glass Crafts," the store was located in Shirokane and was rebranded and opened in Kappabashi. We spoke to Mr. Sano, the business manager, about his thoughts on TSUCHI-YA Glassware and Crafts.

"When I was working at Muromachi Glass Crafts, I only sold Kiriko glass pieces, but I wanted to broaden my business beyond just Kiriko and become a place where customers could choose special everyday items, so I changed the store to sell all kinds of glass products. I hope that customers will be able to choose their favorite products and help enrich their daily lives."

The reason why the shop mainly deals in glass and other craft items is because Sano wanted to create a place where people could update their everyday items.

"Many of the people who visit Kappabashi are highly conscious of wanting to make their everyday items a little nicer. It makes me very happy to see customers from Japan and abroad with shining eyes choosing Kiriko and glass products." 

▲TSUCHI-YA Glassware and Crafts Original Edo Kiriko glass of Mt. Fuji and cherry blossoms.

Edo Kiriko glass is supported by the delicate techniques of artisans

At TSUCHI-YA Glassware and Crafts, we carry both Edo Kiriko and Satsuma Kiriko. Edo Kiriko and Satsuma Kiriko were developed separately during the Edo period, and there are differences in the cutting methods and color gradations.

"Edo Kiriko and Satsuma Kiriko are different in the thickness of the colored glass layered on top of the clear glass. Edo Kiriko is characterized by thin colored glass and delicate patterns, while Satsuma Kiriko is characterized by thicker colored glass and cuts that show off gradations. You can think of Edo Kiriko as paper cutting and Satsuma Kiriko as ink painting," explains Sano.

Kiriko is eye-catching for the beauty of its cuts, but it is not just the cutting technique that supports its beauty. Kiriko is created by a combination of the quality of the glass material, the cutting technique, and the finishing polishing.

"Each craftsman expresses his or her own individuality by creating original glass materials that shine in seven colors and developing new patterns. Because they are filled with delicate techniques, no two pieces are the same. This makes them more expensive, but it is precisely for this reason that they become items that you can cherish for the rest of your life."

▲The sake set made only of SatsumaKiriko is also popular with foreign tourists.


A place where you can experience carefully selecting products

The selection criteria for TSUCHI-YA glassware and craft products are that they are aesthetically pleasing and can be used daily. Sano-san told us that he wants his customers to love his products as something they can use every day, rather than as decoration.

"Even if it's just a cup, having a favorite item can make life more enjoyable, right? We want to provide products that enrich the time you spend at home."

To add color to your daily life, you need to take the time to choose a product that you really like, in accordance with your own sensibilities. TSUCHI-YA Glassware and Crafts does not just sell products, it also offers the experience of carefully choosing something for yourself.

"Even products that look the same have slight differences, so I line up several items and let customers choose. I want customers to enjoy the special time they get to carefully consider the product for themselves."

Some customers say that they have thought about it for a long time, but in the end they end up buying it because they just can't forget it. Because no two items are exactly alike, it's an irreplaceable encounter.

At TSUCHI-YA Glassware, you can experience a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with crafts and glassware. The encounters you make here are sure to add color and sparkle to your daily life. Finding your favorite everyday items will encourage you on your path to a richer life.

TSUCHI-YA ガラスの器と工芸
電話番号：03-6555-2270
住所：東京都台東区西浅草2丁目5-4
アクセス：東京メトロ銀座線浅草駅から徒歩12分 田原町駅から徒歩6分
HP：https://tsuchi-ya.jp/
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/tsuchi_ya__glass/
※営業時間や定休日についての詳細は上記のリンク先にてご確認ください。