Betting on the future of glass crafts
What is Toyama City’s initiative?
Toyama has been famous for selling medicine since the early Edo period. During the Meiji and Taisho periods, Toyama was one of the top manufacturers of handmade glass medicine bottles in Japan, and before the war, there were more than 10 glass factories equipped with blast furnaces around Toyama Station.
It was 35 years ago that we inherited this tradition and began working to make modern glass crafts a cornerstone of the city's cultural and industrial development. Dasha Kroachko, who runs the online gallery "Japanese Glass" and promotes Japanese glass crafts to the world, goes so far as to say, ``Toyama is the capital of modern glass crafts in Japan.'' Toyama's glass crafts are widely known overseas as well.
"Toyama Glass Art Institute" is the first public educational institution specializing in glass art in Japan. It is international, welcoming professors and students from overseas. Photography by Toyama Institute of Glass Art
``Toyama Glass Studio'' is a base for artists' activities and a place for citizens to enjoy glass art. Most of the people who have completed the workshop's training have gone on to work as independent glass artists or instructors both domestically and internationally. Photo provided by: Toyama Tourism Promotion Organization (public corporation)
At the Toyama City Glass Art Museum, you can get acquainted with contemporary glass art from Japan and abroad. Designed by architect Kengo Kuma. Photography by Toyama Glass Art Museum
Ryugoro Nagai, art manager of Toyama Glass Studio, says: ``Toyama Glass has a strong overseas orientation, and each facility has a place for international exchange.'' It's no wonder that many of the glass artists have experience working overseas.
From ceramics to glass
Sansai Kitamura moved to Toyama
Toyama City's measures for glass crafts have borne fruit, and it can be said that artist-in-residence has naturally taken root in this city, with many artists now living in this city.
Sansai Kitamura was born into a Kiyomizu ware pottery in Kyoto and studied pottery at high school and vocational school in order to continue the family business. However, as he learned more about pottery glazes, Kitamura was drawn to the transparency of glass and headed to Toyama. He studied at the Toyama Glass Art Institute and later worked as a staff member at the Toyama Glass Studio.
While working at a glass studio in Fukui, she met her future husband, Takashi Iwasaka. The married couple decides to live in Toyama.
Sansai Kitamura's soy sauce jug "Benitsubaki". In addition to functionality, we are particular about details such as the tactility and volume of the form. “I would be happy if people could feel even a little bit of joy every time they use my work,” says Kitamura. Photography by Miya Kitamura
Sansai Kitamura's butter case "Cupola". The cool accent colors and the roundness that resembles the swelling of bubbles are beautiful. Photography by Miya Kitamura
A place for writers to create freely
Cultivating artists at Toyama Glass Studio
The Toyama Glass Studio is equipped with equipment such as glass blowing, processing and polishing, and electric furnaces. For Kitamura and Iwasaka, who rent equipment for production, the advantage is that they can significantly reduce costs.
Taku Iwasaka and Sansai Kitamura work together at the Toyama Glass Studio. Photography by Masako Suda
Toyama Glass Studio provides artists with many opportunities to grow even after they become independent. Kitamura and Iwasaka collaborated on a glass piece to decorate the lobby of the Toyama City Medical Association Nursing College. He also participated in the creation of the glass brand ``Toyama Iconic,'' which was launched with the cooperation of the government, artists, and the private sector. I feel that the measures taken to support artists' activities are supported by the entire city of Toyama.
Iwasaka speaks. ``By helping the Toyama Glass Studio and the city's efforts, you will be able to approach glass objectively, and you will be able to broaden your work.By having experiences that you would not be able to do individually, you will become new blood and flesh. That’s for sure.”
Takashi Iwasaka's perfume bottle ``Kaze no Bud'' has an image of gentle wind and fluctuation. Photography by Suguru Iwasaka
Between the mountains of the Northern Alps and Toyama Bay. Under the unique climate, contemporary glass artists are able to freely demonstrate their true potential and create unique works. Toyama is a city where you can enjoy the light, color, transparency, and fun of glass craftsmanship in your daily life. The seriousness of Toyama City makes the artists and the city shine.
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