Satsuma Vidro Kogei

Satsuma Kiriko / Satsuma Vidro Kogei
In just twenty years, a new mastery has emerged—
and the artisans continue to pursue its limits.

Artisans Reviving the Brilliance of a Century Past

Satsuma Vidro Kogei is a glass studio dedicated to reviving Satsuma Kiriko, the “phantom glass art” that was born in Satsuma about 150 years ago and disappeared after barely two decades.

Since its founding in 1994, the workshop has continued to explore the possibilities of glass in Kagoshima, building a new era of Satsuma Kiriko upon three guiding pillars: light, color, and craftsmanship.

Restoring the Lost Colors of Satsuma Kiriko

From the beginning, their challenge lay in restoring the long-lost “colors” that had once existed but could no longer be reproduced. Starting with the three signature hues — kin-aka (gold red), ruri (lapis blue), and ai (indigo) — they devoted about 20 years to recreating additional tones: green, yellow, golden purple, black, copper red, and finally, the soft amber tint that completed the palette.

Even today, the artisans continue to push beyond tradition, seeking out new colors to enrich their art.

A “Beauty to Be Touched”

By awakening the memory of colors lost 150 years ago, they craft glass that embodies both precision and warmth: sharp cuts softened by subtle roundness, creating a “beauty to be touched.”

This is not mere restoration — it is a luxurious reinterpretation of heritage through the lens of contemporary sensibility.