Starting in Fukagawa and Moving to Otaru for a Fresh Start

Please tell us about the founding history of Fukagawa Glass and its journey up to today.

Our company was established in 1906. Our founding history began when my great-grandfather's mentor, Yukimasa Ida, set up a factory in the Fukagawa district (now Sumiyoshi area) of Tokyo. Back then, we were commissioned by the national government to produce jars for storing salt and medicines.

Though the factory gradually expanded, it was entirely destroyed during the Great Kanto Earthquake. We reconstructed it, but since jars started to become machine-manufacturable, their sales declined over time.

As a result, from around the middle of the Showa period (1926-1989), our company shifted to the manufacture of tableware. Initially, we only manufactured products like business-use cups, as these were affordable. However, we also wanted to produce special glasses with a distinct feel, so we began honing various skills.

A continuation of our high-end dining ware production went on until the Heisei period (1989-2019). However, in 2003, we faced issues related to the aging of our Tokyo factory. While the factory was initially surrounded by other factories, more residential homes had been built around it by that time, making it difficult to rebuild the factory in the same location.

That led to discussions about relocating to Otaru. The idea came up during a conversation between my father and the president of Kitaichi Glass in Otaru, with whom we had a long-standing relationship. By relocating to Otaru, not only would it facilitate communication due to the proximity but also make product transportation more convenient. Therefore, the decision to move was made based on these factors.

Were there any changes following the relocation?

Prior to the move, our company had about 40 employees, but that number was cut in half.

However, seeing this as an opportunity during the factory reconstruction, my father reviewed our facilities. The current factory reuses the water in the underground tanks and uses the heat generated from running the factory to circulate warmth in the winter. Even before the concept of SDGs gained popularity, we have always strived to run our business considering both people and the planet's future.

What types of products are currently being manufactured at your company?

At our company, we mostly produce OEM products (items manufactured under the brand of others). I think of our company as a super OEM factory. However, we intentionally do not take on many assignments to produce cheap mass-produced goods. The reasoning behind this strategy is our belief that by focusing on making technically challenging items, we can better survive in the market.

Moreover, if we limit our production to only easy-to-manufacture or high-profit items, the efficiency of our production may increase. However, if those products stop selling, the company might struggle to stay afloat.

Therefore, instead of limiting ourselves to specific items, we produce a variety of items catering to different colors and shapes. Sometimes, we even receive requests to produce items that other glass factories have refused.

Many product developers have limited knowledge of manufacturing, and transforming their ideas into actual products can be challenging. Still, even in difficult situations, we strive to think creatively, accepting the project, and proposing a feasible way to make the product.

The dwindling number of factories in our industry, coupled with the difficulty of turning a profit, means that to sustain the market, we need to adapt flexibly to changing trends and accommodate various forms as much as possible. We strongly believe in this approach.

Even Under Changing Conditions, It's the Craftsman's Job to Keep Making

What is the main component of glass?

The main ingredient of glass is sand, mostly sourced from Australia. We purchase pure white sand and mix it with heavy metals and rare metals.

The color can change depending on the amount of iron and other elements in the sand. But by mixing various materials, we can create a diverse range of colored glasses.

However, the degree of coloration is tricky. Completely different products can be created depending on the temperature of melting and the atmospheric pressure inside the factory.

Temperature and humidity also play a role. Especially in Hokkaido, where there is a temperature difference of about 50 degrees between summer and winter, the conditions for combustion are entirely different. That's the hardest part about glassmaking.

Even with the same ingredients, individual differences seem to arise depending on the day.

That's right, it varies day by day. However, part of a craftsman's job is to produce the same result as a machine, despite these variations.

I feel that consumers' discernment has been increasing recently. Nowadays, we have more opportunities to see good products. Thanks to the internet, we can find what we are looking for no matter where we are.

How long does it take for craftsmen to become fully fledged?

It's not something that can be strictly defined by the number of years, but it typically takes around ten years. But it doesn't end there. As long as their bodies can move, they continue to hone their skills.

You mentioned that you often manufacture OEM products. Do you have your own products too?

We do have our own products. We thought that continually manufacturing OEM products might not be interesting for the craftsmen, so to avoid any dissatisfaction from not being able to release something they made under their own name, we started our own brand for them.

As part of our efforts towards the SDGs, since 2017, we have also been manufacturing glasses made from recycled used automobile window glass.

Recycling window glass is a unique initiative. What made you start it?

The trigger was an encounter with a company called Matec Co., Ltd., one of the largest recycling companies in the area. Matec extracts metals from various items and sells them domestically and internationally, and recycles waste tires and plastic parts from used cars.

As for automobile window glass, it is regularly landfilled. Since glass is made from natural materials similar to the earth's crust, it is considered a low-risk material for contaminating the sea or river, even if landfilled. However, the land available for landfill will eventually run out.

Matec is a great company and they were questioning if landfilling is genuinely the best approach as a recycling business.

We had the opportunity to talk at that time. Considering automobile windows are also glass, we saw potential in reusing them, so we started our initiatives towards recycling.

Are there any differences compared to regular glass products?

There's hardly any difference. Melting glass that has already been formed is easier than making it from sand.

The finished product has many bubbles and subtle color variations. Due to impurities in recycled glass, these characteristics are seen.

Whether it's your own or OEM, how are the product designs decided?

For our own products, we draw the designs ourselves. For OEM products, we create them based on blueprints received from clients.

We can handle sandblasting for customizations such as lettering and logos, as well as Kiriko crafting for pattern-making. The fact that we can handle all processes from design, glassboard manufacturing, to processing within our own facilities is our strength.

A Desire to Carry On the Handmade Glass Industry

Do you have any issues concerning the production of glass from your perspective, Deguchi?

The main issue would be labor. Recently, we are fortunate to have people who graduated from art colleges saying they are interested and want to work in glassmaking, but the job is tough and we need to create an environment where they can work for an extended period of time.

Back when our current artisans in their 60s were young, they worked hard without a second thought in order to earn a living. In contrast, I often see younger artisans in their 20s and 30s who are in this profession because they love glass.

Motivation and attitudes towards work differ by generation. Bridging the gap between generations of artisans is a challenging task. However, it significantly affects the company's sustainability, and I regard it as my role.

Lastly, could you please share your future prospects for Fukagawa Glass?

First of all, our absolute priority is to keep our company afloat. We want to keep the craftsmanship of handmade glassware alive and prevent it from disappearing in my generation.

Our company has been involved in glass manufacturing for nearly 120 years, but it seems more than half of our competitors are gone. If things continue as they are, the industry itself could disappear. With this in mind, I'm determined to commit myself to the work, being aware of the fact that I was born in the Deguchi family in Fukagawa and moved to Otaru.

I am the sixth generation to take up this family business, and I hope to eventually pass the baton to someone else and keep our tradition alive.

In addition, we want to begin targeting the European market. Europe is the home of glassware, which I visit every year. Glass has only been in practical use in Japan for about 150 to 200 years, so compared to Europe, our history is quite short.

Our history may be short, but what attracts me to glass is the high degree of freedom it gives as a traditional craft. Recently, we've seen a lot of people in their 20s and 30s who say something like, "I saw your work on social media and came to buy with my bonus." It's interesting to see how times are changing. If you're interested, I'd be very pleased if you could take the time to have a look at our products in person.