Transitioned from IT business to Japanese art dissemination
Dasha Kurochiko
Do you know about the online gallery called "Japanese Glass"? It's no wonder you don't know. This site introduces Japanese glass crafts and their artists in detail, but it is written in English and is little known in Japan. Information transmission is not directed toward Japan.
Dasha Kurochko is a Russian woman who left her homeland about 30 years ago, immigrated to the United States, and became a citizen. She is an entrepreneur with a career in the IT industry and currently lives in the UK. A few years ago, she happened to discover Japanese glass art, and she thought she wanted to share its charm with the world, especially people in the West where she lives. has launched an online gallery called ``Japanese Glass.''
Dasha became attracted to Japanese culture in her late teens. She became obsessed with Akira Kurosawa's films. Her sense of beauty and culture were completely different from the world she knew.
Michi Hashimurano's "Single Flower Vase". ``Just by arranging small wildflowers in Nomi's vase, you can create a Zen atmosphere in your room,'' says Dasha. Photography by Japanese Glass
Since coming to Japan several years ago, I have been exposed to various Japanese arts and crafts. One day, I happened to stop by a small gallery near Kyoto's Philosopher's Walk, and my eyes were glued to posters of past exhibitions. It was glass art. This was the first time I had encountered a craft that touched my heart so directly.
Overcoming the language barrier,
Launch of “Japanese Glass”
When I returned to England, I researched Japanese glass crafts on the internet, but most of the information was in Japanese. A language barrier stands in the way.
Dasha's desire to learn more about Japanese glass crafts and to introduce its charm to the West grew stronger. That's when I met Kazuyo Yasuda, an editorial writer who has lived in London for 25 years. With Yasuda's cooperation in a wide range of areas including research, translation, and interpretation, the online gallery ``Japanese Glass'' began to take shape.
"Japanese Glass" makes direct contact with artists, introduces their profiles and production scenes, and helps them sell their works. Toyama Glass Studio in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, the center of Japan's modern glass crafts, is also generously cooperating.
Takezen Mitsui, a native of Hiroshima, worked at Toyama Glass Studio before becoming independent. He continues to create while living in Toyama. Photography by Japanese Glass
Takezen Mitsui's glass sculpture ``Drifter'' expresses hard glass in a soft manner. Photography by Takeyoshi Mitsui
Dasha experiencing lampwork at Yuko Asakura's glass workshop (Kanagawa) Photography by Japanese Glass
Yuko Asakura's object "Harmony". Received the JGAA Award at the Japan Glass Crafts Association's ``'18 Japanese Glass Exhibition''. Photography by Minoru Fukuda
Captured Dasha's heart
The charm of Japanese glass crafts
We asked Dasha about the appeal of Japanese glass crafts. "I'm inspired by nature. I'm also attracted to the emphasis on the texture of materials, forms such as asymmetry, and minimalism."
When you look at the ``Japanese Glass'' collection, you will notice that there are many pieces that have natural motifs or are inspired by nature.
Sansai Kitamura’s vase “Nami-Toru”. This work was created with such a scene in mind - when you listen to the sound of water in a field full of blooming flowers. Photography by Miya Kitamura
Takashi Iwasaka's object "Symbiosis #17". Using stone and glass, we express how shapes created by nature and shapes created by humans can coexist in new ways while taking advantage of each other. Photography by Suguru Iwasaka
A vase of Yamazaki leaves and a sake cup called “Karasunoendou”. Yamazaki, who works in Yamanashi, depicts the rich nature that surrounds us on blown glass. Photography by Yo Yamazaki
Add color to your daily life
glass crafts
Furthermore, Dasha says: "I'm also attracted to the 'usual beauty' of Japanese glass crafts." As her words suggest, Japanese glass crafts exist in her daily life.
``Small flower vases, teacups, and soy sauce jugs are all Japanese glass crafts.I feel joy looking at them every day.I want to live with beautiful things, handmade things, and things that are special to me. There doesn't have to be a large number of them."
Enjoy art in your daily life. She moved to Toyama and arranged flowers that were familiar to her in Yoko Sano's ``Woven Flower Vase'', which she creates in her studio with her husband. Photography by Japanese Glass
``Japanese Glass'' has a wide range of collections, from affordable accessories to elaborate art objects. "I want young people in particular to learn about Japanese glass crafts that can be easily incorporated into daily life." Through Dasha's open window, another piece of Japanese art will be transmitted to the world.
Dasha uses Sansai Kitamura's pitcher ``Pezzo'' (Italian for ``lump''. A part of it has a transparent lump of glass that collects light). Photography by Japanese Glass
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