The third element that enriches the drinking experience

　 Kimoto Glass, a wholesaler of glassware for more than 90 years, launched a glassware brand "KIMOTO GLASS TOKYO" in 2014. Just as one pairs the perfect beverage to a dish, the brand sought to create a wide variety of glasses perfect for each occasion. Kimoto Glass has designed over 130 pieces of glassware to date. Seiichi Kimoto, president of Kimoto Glass, says “in addition to the pairing of cuisine and beverage, the choice of glass acts as the third element in creating a higher quality dining experience." The KIMOTO GLASS TOKYO line-up includes KUROCO, the world's first glassware that incorporates black into Edo Kiriko glass faceting, which traditionally uses red or blue. These glasses keep up with the times by incorporating a simple modern design, which appeals even to the younger generation. In the pursuit of ideas that go beyond typical　traditional crafts, Kimoto Glass reached out to designers from outside the industry. From among the many proposals received by the designers, Mr Kimoto, a connoisseur of glass workshops and artisans in Japan and abroad, carefully selected and decided upon the most achievable designs.

Inventions that required the deepening of traditional techniques

Developing black Edo Kiriko however, came with it’s challenges. Edo Kiriko is a two-tiered structure, with a coloured outer layer and a transparent inner layer. It took more than a year to create a glass with a thin outer black layer that does not let the light through. In the grinding process that followed, it was hard to see where the grinder blade touched the glass due to the nature of the black colour. Through much trial and error, the Edo Kiriko artisans created a special jig to work with the glass. It took more than six months before they were able produce the glassware with consistency. KUROCO, the result of deepening traditional artisanal techniques, garnered much attention as a line-up of products that transcends the boundaries of tradition. It is now sold at interior design stores, clothing stores and overseas luxury brands that had never sold Edo Kiriko before.

　 Mr Kimoto has travelled to over 40 countries and studied the different types of glassware. He says that he will continue to travel the world, drink delicious alcohol from different regions, talk to the locals, and hopes to collaborate with various people to form new ideas in developing glassware that create the perfect occasion.