Beautiful sake cups and bottles of Edo-kiriko cut glass from Amazon

Yarai Pattern (blue)

There are many traditional crafts including pottery, porcelain, and metal products in Japan but the glassware which has a long history isn’t so many. Edo-kiriko is the most popular Japanese glassware. Edo is the ancient name of Tokyo and more than a million people lived in the city (the largest population in the middle 18the century around the world!). Until the Edo Period (1603-1868), the culture of Japan was mostly developed the ruling class such as aristocracy and samurai. However, the culture of the Edo Period was the culture of townspeople. They like smart and refined things which they called as “粋” (Iki).

What is Japanse “Iki” spirit?

Do you know how to enjoy sake?

www.masterpiece-of-japanese-culture.com

The ways to enjoy drinking sake (Japanese rice wine)

Best Ways to Enjoy NihonshuThere are over 5,000 brewers and 20,000 kinds of sake liquor in Japan. Though the amount of export of sake from Japan is still limited, the opportunity to drink in other countries gradually has increased. More and more restaurants start to serve sake and you can also buy from a website in Japan. Of course, it's ok to simply enjoy Japanese rice wine. But a sort of tips would make sake tastier. For example, do you know the best temperature of the water when you d...

Hishi-nanako Pattern (blue)

As you see, the Edo-kiriko glassware represents the mind of Iki, isn’t it? Actually, when the glassware shopkeeper Kagaya Kyubei began to make cut glass in 1834, the products were only a colorless and transparent crystal glass. The colored cut glass came onto the market during the Meiji Period (1868-1912) when the country accepted the Western culture. The various patterns for Edo-kiriko were also invented in those days. Yarai, Hishi-nanako, and Asa-no ha are the traditional patterns of Edo-kiriko.

Asa-no ha Pattern

Yarai is a palisade. Since a palisade defend against the invasion of enemies, people believed that a sake cup with the pattern has a power to protect from evil. Hishi-nanako means roe pattern in a diamond. A roe pattern is for descendants prosperity. The fine pattern needs the advanced technique of engraving. And Asa-no ha is a hemp leaf which grows up straightly. The pattern contains a wish for the healthy growth.

View more the various patterns of Edo-kiriko glassware

Yarai Pattern (blue)

Especially, the patterns and colors of Edo-kiriko sake cups have increased in these days. I would like you to see them from the links of related posts below!