Kenji Ootomo has worked as a cut glass artisan for 37 years now.

His grandfather and father opened the family run workshop "Ootomo Glassware" and started crafting Edo Kiriko cut glasses in 1968.

Edo Kiriko is a glass craft that has been handed down in Tokyo since the 1800s, cutting stunning patterns into the surface of glass.

Kenji-san has loved crafting and working with his hands since he was a child, and has been doing cut glass since he turned 18. He wants to keep going until he is 90.

To keep this traditional craft alive, he plans to take in apprentices from now on and teach them the techniques of Edo Kiriko.

Edo Kiriko glass, named after Edo (today's Tokyo), has a history dating back to 1824 when Yubei Kagaya began experimenting with carving patterns into glass surfaces. This craft became intertwined with urban culture and underwent significant development in the mid-19th century. During this time, Western tools and techniques were incorporated alongside traditional methods, a fusion that continues to be upheld today.

Skilled glassblowers shape clear glass into thin colored layers, then rotate them in the air to achieve the desired form. The resulting glassware consists of two layers: colored on the outside and clear on the inside. Using various stones, artisans intricately carve designs onto the outer layer, creating a striking contrast between the vibrant colors and the transparent inner layer.