Toyama Glass Studio
富山ガラス工房
The Origins of Glass in Toyama
The beginning of Toyama's glass culture originated from the history of medicine in Toyama. During the Edo period, Toyama gained national recognition for its Echū drug peddlers (越中富山の薬売り), who traveled across Japan selling traditional remedies. To support this trade, glass production flourished—especially for medicine bottles (薬瓶, yakubin).
The Origins of Glass in Toyama
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Toyama had become Japan’s leading producer of pharmaceutical glassware, with over ten glass factories clustered near Toyama Station. This early industrial base would later evolve into the foundation for Toyama’s artistic glass culture.
From Industry to Art
While the city’s glass industry faced major changes during and after the war—and plastic eventually replaced glass in packaging—Toyama never lost its connection to glassmaking. In 1985, the city launched a glass art course for citizens, planting the seed of a new creative movement. This led to the founding of Japan’s first public glass art institute—the Toyama City Institute of Glass Art—in 1991. Here, the focus shifted from mass production to personal expression, nurturing a new generation of glass artists.
A City Shaped by Glass
Over the past few decades, Toyama has evolved into “The City of Glass,” where glass is intricately woven into both the city’s culture and everyday life. At the heart of this movement is the Toyama Glass Studio, a vibrant creative hub where artisans gather to craft, experiment, and exhibit their work.
The city is also home to the Toyama Glass Art Museum, designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma and opened in 2015, offering visitors a chance to experience world-class contemporary glass art. Beyond these institutions, glass is seamlessly integrated into the urban landscape itself—from bridge railings to station walls—making Toyama a city where glass is not only admired, but lived with. In Toyama, glass is more than a material—it’s a lens through which the city expresses its identity.
The Colors of Toyama
Toyama City, together with its glass artists, has pursued more than technical skill—embracing a Japanese aesthetic of color and atmosphere rooted in nature and tradition. In Japan, most colored glass materials are imported, and rarely reflect Japanese sensibilities. This led Toyama to create glass colors that embody authentic Japanese beauty—colors found nowhere else in the world.
The Colors of Toyama
After nearly two decades of research, the result is Toyama Mandala Sai (富山曼荼羅彩)—five original hues inspired by traditional colors and local materials. Among them is Koshi-no-Hisui Glass, a soft, translucent green made with waste jade from nearby Asahi Town. These colors are more than beautiful—they embody a deep respect for nature, seasonality, and the local landscape, as well as the desire to craft something truly local and sustainable.
YAKUBIN: Reimagining the Spirit of Toyama’s Glass Roots
Inspired by the humble medicine bottle at the root of Toyama’s glassmaking history, the Toyama Iconic YAKUBIN Bud Vase Series was born. Handcrafted by a collective of local glass artists, each vase reflects the silhouette of a traditional yakubin—simple, compact, and quietly elegant.Available in all five Toyama Mandala Colors, these petite vessels are designed to hold a single flower and invite calm into your everyday life. From medicine bottle to modern art object, this is a story of transformation—bridging history, craftsmanship, and beauty in the palm of your hand.
The workshop is located in Inaba Saigo Craft Village, a thriving community of artisans specializing in pottery, woodworking, and other crafts. The village hosts collaborative events and supports young artisans, fostering a dynamic hub for both traditional and contemporary craftsmanship.
