Keep it long, treasure it long.

Beautiful luster of blowing

This "Hizen Kanbin" can be said to be the masterpiece of Hizen Vidro. It is a utensil for making hot sake, and it is always placed on the table at celebrations, etc. It has a retro shape that has been loved in Saga for a long time. A craftsman who has been involved in the craft for decades creates a beautiful curve, especially around the mouth, created by a rare traditional technique called Japan blowing, which is shaped only by the senses of the hand.

Phantom technique, Japanese blowing

One of the reasons why Hizen Vidro is designated as an important intangible cultural property of Saga City is the technique of blowing glass called “Japan blowing”. It is the rarest technique in the world and the only one in Japan that is used only in Hizen Vidro. This is because products made with Japanese blowing have a spout. This is because the body part is made first, and then the glass is attached to another glass rod and glued to the body to make the spout.

The reason why Japanese blowing is said to be an illusion is because it is difficult to acquire the technique. Normally, an iron blowing rod is used to produce blown glass, but Japan blowing uses a glass blowing rod. In addition to the fact that blowing a long, thin glass blowing rod itself requires skill, tempering (during production, the temperature drops and hardens, making it difficult to shape). Since it is not possible to keep the constant constant, everything is done quickly and it becomes a one-shot game. Due to the difficulty of creating shapes based on centrifugal force and the center of gravity, it takes several decades to become a full-fledged fisherman. This is a special technique that is only used for a few Hizen Vidro products, but it leads to the unique shape and texture of Hizen Vidro. Among the Hizen Vidro products handled by ZUTTO, this Hizen Kanbin is made with this technique.

Hizen Kanbin comes in a decorative box, so it is not only for home use, but also makes a great gift for weddings, housewarmings, etc. The unique shape is not only beautiful to look at, but the smoothness of the glass makes it easy to pour. It can be used not only as a vessel for making hot sake, but also as a sake bottle for cold sake and as a tool for enjoying wine at a delicious temperature. Please choose it as a gift, a family celebration, or a gift for those who love alcohol.

Hizen Vidro from the Edo Period

In 1852, the lord of the Nabeshima domain set up a refining process in the basin of the Tafuse River in Saga City to manufacture cannons. The method of refinement is what is now known as the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research. It was a facility for technical development and improvement to protect and strengthen the clan, such as cannon casting, and a glass kiln, which was rare at the time, was built, and beakers and flasks were mainly made for scientific experiments. The glass technology cultivated here spread to the manufacture of daily necessities such as lamps and tableware after the Meiji Restoration. Seirenkata became a private company called Seirensho, and Genichiro Soejima became independent in 1903 and founded Soejima Glass Industry. Hizen Vidro, which could only be made by craftsmen, is disappearing in the wave of modern mechanization.