Satuma Vidro Kogei

Satsuma Kiriko originally flourished in the mid-19th century under Lord Nariakira Shimazu of the Satsuma domain. Coloured overlay glass was deeply cut to create bold patterns and rich colours, but production declined amidst political and social upheavals and had effectively ceased by the early Meiji era. Satuma Vidro Kogei was founded in 1994 by a craftsman involved in the revival of this “lost” glass, with the aim of passing on its beauty to future generations.

From the very beginning, the workshop worked to restore traditional colours such as red, lapis and blue, and later succeeded in producing green, yellow and other hues. After being designated as a Traditional Craft of Kagoshima Prefecture, it continued to expand its palette with gold purple made using gold, the pioneering black Satsuma Kiriko and copper red. In 2009, the workshop also achieved “tenchi-gasé”, a technique that overlays different colours of glass vertically, opening up new possibilities for Satsuma Kiriko.

The product lineup includes “Denshō Satsuma Kiriko”, which faithfully follows historical designs, more exclusive “Denshō Satsuma Kiriko (masterpieces)”, standard Satsuma Kiriko for everyday use, black Satsuma Kiriko, “Koshiki” pieces inspired by old-style glass, Satsuma Brown, double overlay pieces and limited editions. In addition, Satsuma Kiriko jewelry and free-blown doll and helmet ornaments broaden the scope of expression beyond tableware.

The main workshop is located in Satsuma Town, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is introduced by local tourism information as a place where visitors can both purchase Satsuma Kiriko and see the production process. Visitors can watch craftsmen at work and choose pieces such as glasses, sake cups and vases in the onsite shop. The company also operates its own online store and a Rakuten marketplace shop, making its products accessible throughout Japan and overseas.

In recent years Satuma Vidro Kogei has launched a new brand called “grad.”, which expresses the gradation of Satsuma Kiriko in simple, contemporary forms. Through this brand and through collaborations with various partners, the company continues to explore designs that fit modern dining and interior spaces while remaining rooted in the tradition of Satsuma Kiriko.

Workshop founded by a craftsman involved in the revival of Satsuma Kiriko

Satuma Vidro Kogei was established in 1994 by a craftsman who had taken part in the restoration project for Satsuma Kiriko, a glassware that had vanished in the early Meiji era. The workshop aims to create pieces that convey a sense of wonder and emotion, while inheriting the aesthetics of Satsuma glass and adapting it to modern lifestyles.

In-house production from raw glass to cutting and polishing

One of the key characteristics of Satuma Vidro Kogei is its integrated production system. The workshop is one of the few that carries out all processes in-house, from preparing crystal glass blanks to cutting and polishing. Thick layers of softly coloured overlay glass are deeply cut to create the unique “bokashi” gradation from colour to clear glass, giving Satsuma Kiriko its depth and brilliance.

From restored colours to new hues, black Satsuma Kiriko and “tenchi-gasé” overlay

After reproducing traditional colours such as red, lapis and blue, the company succeeded in developing additional colours including green, yellow, gold purple, black and copper red. It has been certified as a Traditional Craft of Kagoshima Prefecture and has also introduced innovative expressions such as the industry’s first black Satsuma Kiriko and a two-tone overlay technique known as “tenchi-gasé”, which stacks different colours vertically to create complex gradations.