31｜History of Glass: Japanese Glass Manufacturers, Handmade Glass Factories (Part 1)

Hello🎵

In previous posts, I shared my personal thoughts on Kimoto Glassware's nearly 100-year history, including the challenges it has faced, the innovations it has pursued, and the obstacles it has overcome.

Kimoto Glassware has been preserved thanks to the advice, guidance, and cooperation of many people. We will continue to take on new challenges as a team, and we kindly ask for your continued guidance and encouragement.

I would like to talk about the challenges we have faced since developing the world's first black Edo Kiriko at a later time.

Now, I would like to talk about Japanese glass manufacturers.

As I explained about the history of glass, glass manufacturing was done using traditional hand-made methods until the 1950s, and there were dozens of glass factories in Tokyo. Sasaki Glass was the first in Asia to introduce the H28 machine from Owens-Illinois in the United States, which could produce 100,000 tumblers per day. This led to a mass supply of inexpensive and high-quality tumblers, and as a result, many hand-made glass factories went out of business, leaving only a few remaining.

First, I would like to talk about companies that manufactured glasses using automation, and companies that used to but no longer exist.

Ishizuka Glass, listed on the Standard Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a long-established glass manufacturer that celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2019. Currently, it manufactures not only glass and glassware but also various containers such as paper containers and PET bottles. Ishizuka Glass's products related to glass tableware are sold domestically through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Adelia, so Adelia might be a more familiar name to you.

The history of Ishizuka Glass began in 1819 (Bunsei 2), when the first Iwazaburo Ishizuka started manufacturing glass in Tsuchida, Kani City, Gifu Prefecture, and in 1850 (Kaei 3), he received an order for vidro craftsmanship from Tokugawa Yoshikatsu, the lord of the Owari domain.

After that, with several factory relocations and expansions, they also started manufacturing glass bottles, and in the 1950s, they greatly expanded their business by establishing modern automated glass and glass bottle factories. In 1962 (Showa 37), in response to the revision of the Liquor Tax Law, they developed and launched the world's first plum wine bottle, which sold explosively as a new market. Even today, plum wine bottles are sold throughout Japan during plum season.

The Arcoroc series, which you still often see in izakayas and other places, was released in 1968 (Showa 43) and is still popular and sold in large quantities.

The history of Adelia continues in the next installment.