The American Admiral Matthew Perry came to Shimoda in 1853 with the letter of President Millard Fillmore. His visit is a historical event that everyone knows in Japan that triggered the Meiji Restoration. He came to open a small island that had been isolated for more than 200 years and was surprised to see a product given by the Japanese side as a gift. He never thought that Japan, which had been considered an undeveloped small country, had such a sophisticated cut glass technology. That was Edo-kiriko from the glass merchant Kagaya Kyubei.
However, there is not much detailed information about him, and it is certain that Kyubei was originally the name of Minagawa Bunjiro and was a salesclerk of the Kagaya. It was during this period that he invented a facet that carved the surface of the glass with emery powder. After that, he was allowed to established the new Kagaya in Oodenma-cho and changed his name to Kyubei.
The classic patterns of Edo Period for decoration including Yarai and Kagome Pattern were already introduced to the Kyubei’s glassware.
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Edo kiriko Japanese drinking glassware. There are many patterns!