VOL.209 NOVEMBER 2025
ENJOYING JAPAN’S MARKETS
Experiencing Tokyo’s Traditional Crafts at the Sumida Glass Market
The Sumida Glass Market is held every April and October.
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
Held twice a year in Sumida City, Tokyo, the Sumida Glass Market is known as Japan’s only market dedicated exclusively to glassware. The event showcases a wide range of items, from traditional handcrafted pieces by skilled artisans to everyday glassware.
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
Oyokogawa Shinsui Park, the venue for the event, is about a five-minute walk from JR Kinshicho Station, with Tokyo Skytree towering nearby. Every April and October, the park hosts the Sumida Glass Market. Participating organizations include the TOBU Glass Industry Co-operative Association (TGIA) of Japan, a general incorporated association designated by the national and Tokyo governments as a traditional craft industry, and the Edo Kiriko Cooperative Association, both of which offer a wide array of original glassware.
We spoke with ENDO Kaoru of the secretariat of the TGIA of Japan, the organizer of the event.
“The Sumida Glass Market is Japan’s only market dedicated exclusively to glassware. It features some of Tokyo’s iconic traditional crafts,1 including Edo2 Glass, made using techniques dating back to the Edo period (early 17th to the middle of the late 19th century), and Edo Kiriko, glassware adorned with delicate cut patterns. Visitors can also find a wide range of other items, from drinking glasses, tableware, and vases to accessories and even laboratory glassware such as test tubes.”
The methods for making Edo Glass are varied. Molten glass heated to approximately 1,400 °C is gathered on an iron pipe called a fukisao and then shaped in several ways: by blowing into the pipe, pressing the molten glass into molds, or stretching and forming it with tools such as paddles. Each piece is a unique, handcrafted creation, with the depth and character that only careful artisanal work can achieve. At the same time, contemporary designs and techniques are incorporated to meet modern needs.
Edo Kiriko refers to Edo Glass that is decorated with delicate cut patterns. It is made by pressing the glass against a rotating grinding wheel to carve intricate designs into the surface, resulting in the geometric and decorative patterns for which it is renowned.
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
The Sumida Glass Market began in 1992 at the initiative of Sumida City and was originally held every month. The event was created to raise awareness of the handmade glass factories located mainly in Sumida, Koto, and Edogawa Cities as part of Tokyo’s local industries, and to allow artisans to present their skills and products directly to consumers. Over time, the market has evolved and is now held twice a year.
“Today, 16 organizations participate in the market, with around 20 tents set up at the venue. The selection ranges from affordable items costing a few hundred yen to exquisite handcrafted pieces priced in the tens of thousands of yen, showcasing a wide variety of glassware,” says ENDO.
Since 2007, a charity section has also been established, with all proceeds supporting local welfare activities through Sumida City.
“Proceeds from glassware donated by participating organizations are given to the Sumida Council of Social Welfare through Sumida City. Visitors are often delighted to find unexpected treasures while supporting a good cause.”
In recent years, about 10 to 20% of visitors have come from overseas, and their numbers continue to grow, ENDO notes.
“The area around the venue also offers attractions where visitors can experience Japanese culture, including The Sumida Hokusai Museum, which showcases the works of KATSUSHIKA Hokusai,3 and Ryogoku Kokugikan, the home of the Grand Sumo Tournament,4 making it a fun area to explore.”
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji
This market, which brings together traditional crafts and glassware such as Edo Glass and Edo Kiriko, offers a rare opportunity to experience the finest of Tokyo’s craftsmanship. By handling the pieces and seeing artisans’ skills up close, visitors can truly appreciate the charm of how Japan’s traditions blend with modern life.
- 1. Edo Kiriko was designated a Traditional Craft of Tokyo in 1985 and a national traditional craft in 2002. Additionally, Edo Glass was designated a Traditional Craft of Tokyo in 2002 and a national traditional craft in 2014. (See “Glittering Patterns Engraved on Glass,” HIGHLIGHTING Japan January 2021 issue)
- 2. Present-day Tokyo.
- 3. KATSUSHIKA Hokusai (1760–1849), a master ukiyo-e (woodblock print) artist whose works influenced many Western painters.
- 4. Sumo is a traditional Japanese martial art. The most prestigious professional sumo tournaments, organized today by the Japan Sumo Association, are referred to as Ozumo.
By MOROHASHI Kumiko
Photo: ISHIZAWA Yoji; PIXTA