Shotoku Glass (松徳硝子)
Ultra-thin mouth-blown glassware born from light bulb making.
Shotoku Glass was founded in 1922 in Tokyo as a factory for light bulb glass. As light bulb production became automated after the war, the company shifted to tableware — applying the same skill of blowing glass thin and evenly to drinking glasses. Today, Shotoku specializes in mouth-blown beer, sake, and wine glasses from their Minamisenju workshop. Their flagship USUHARI series, with a uniform wall thickness of less than 1mm, is the ultra-thin glass that changes how a drink feels and tastes.
PROFILE Company & Brand Story
The history of Shotoku Glass goes back to 1922, when its predecessor was founded as a factory for light bulb glass. As light bulb production became automated after the war, the company looked for a new field where its hand-blown techniques could be used and gradually shifted to tableware. By applying the skill of blowing glass thin and evenly, Shotoku began producing glassware that combines strength with a delicate, refined feel.
Today Shotoku Glass operates in Minamisenju, Tokyo, where craftsmen continue to mouth-blow each piece. The company designs shapes that match contemporary drinking styles and offers a range of glasses for beer, sake, wine, highballs and more. Compared to mass-produced glasses, the products are characterized by their fine rims, light weight and the tactile quality that comes from handwork.
Development of the USUHARI series started around 1989. With its ultra-thin wall thickness of less than 1mm, the series quickly gained a reputation among professionals for bringing out the colour and aroma of beverages. The glasses are now used in tasting events, bars and restaurants, as well as in advertising and TV commercials. The lineup has expanded to tumblers, old fashioned glasses, beer glasses, daiginjo sake glasses and more.
Alongside standard products, Shotoku Glass produces custom and collaborative glassware for brands, designers and lifestyle shops. Through retail partners and specialty stores across Japan, the company's glasses reach everyday users, enthusiasts and professionals alike — all rooted in the original goal of making drinking more enjoyable.
USUHARI — Under 1mm Thick, Mouth-Blown in Tokyo
The USUHARI series achieves a uniform wall thickness of less than 1mm — each piece mouth-blown and hand-finished by craftsmen in the Minamisenju workshop. The result is a glass that almost disappears in your hand, letting the drink's color, aroma, and temperature come through without interference.
From Light Bulb Glass to Tableware
Shotoku's glassblowing skill was developed for incandescent light bulbs — where thin, even glass is a technical necessity. That same precision, applied to drinking glasses, produces a fineness that mechanical production cannot replicate.
Beer, Sake, Wine, Highball — A Glass for Each Drink
The USUHARI lineup is organized by drink type: beer glass, tumbler, old fashioned, daiginjo sake glass, and more. Each shape is designed to optimize the way that specific drink presents itself — pour temperature, head retention, aroma release.
Custom & Collaborative Glassware
Shotoku also develops custom-made glasses for brands, designers and shops — proposing shapes, adding engraving or printing, producing original items using hand-blown techniques. Their glass has appeared in fashion brand collaborations, hotel amenity sets, and museum gift shops.
PRODUCTS Featured Products & Services
USUHARI Beer Glass — Ultra-Thin Mouth-Blown, Made in Tokyo
The USUHARI beer glass: under 1mm thick, mouth-blown in Minamisenju, Tokyo. The thin rim and wall allow beer temperature and carbonation to transmit directly — a noticeably different drinking experience from standard glassware.
View DetailsUSUHARI Sake Glass (Daiginjo) — Ultra-Thin, Made in Tokyo
The USUHARI daiginjo sake glass — shaped to concentrate ginjo aroma while allowing the delicate color of high-grade sake to shine through the thin walls. A popular gift for sake enthusiasts.
View DetailsMEDIA Media, Awards & Initiatives
- USUHARI is frequently featured in sake and beer media as the definitive ultra-thin Japanese glass. Also available as eco-certified e-glass (recycled glass) products.