Kutani Sake Glass - Akae Bird Motif

Two Japanese Traditions, One Glass

Kutani ware is a ceramic tradition from Ishikawa Prefecture, known for expressive painting and a rich use of colour. Edo glass, developed in Tokyo, brings another kind of beauty: the clarity and subtle variations of glass shaped by hand. One invites us to look at a painted surface; the other lets us look through it.

Based in Nomi, Ishikawa, Seihodo brings these two traditions together in its Kutani Wa Glass collection. A hand-painted porcelain base supports a hand-blown glass bowl, joining two materials with very different textures and ways of catching the light. It is a way of enjoying Japanese ceramics through a familiar object that can find a place at many different tables.

Here, the expressive red bird motif is brought into the intimate scale of a sake glass. The painted base remains visible as the glass is lifted, making the decoration part of the experience of drinking.

The small bowl makes this a glass for modest servings rather than a large pour. The distinction between glass and porcelain remains easy to see, with the clear upper part and decorated foot offering two different views of the same vessel.

Pour a little chilled sake and set a small dish beside it. The glass leaves room for the drink’s appearance and the porcelain adds another detail to the table. Taking time to look, lift and sip can become a modest ritual, giving an everyday evening a more attentive pace.