About US.
TSUNAGU craft Our Mission
Have you ever heard of “milk glass”?
It is a type of tableware manufactured in the U.S. in the mid-1900s, and one of the most famous examples is the [Fire-King] mug, which is known as a vintage sundries.
At that time, milk glass products were manufactured in large quantities in many factories, but they have been replaced by other convenient materials, and today, handmade milk glass is a rarity in the world, even though it has many fans.
Our mission is to bring such milk glass to you from the scene of Japanese craftsmanship, and to create new value by bringing together the best of various craftsmanship and creativity.
That is our mission at Tsunagu Craft,Inc.
HISTORY Connecting History and Tradition
My first encounter with milk glass was at a relative’s house in the U.S., where I found the [Fire-King] mug that had been sitting in the back of a cupboard.
I was immediately hooked, and after returning to Japan, I decided to open a store specializing in milk glass. The more I learned about milk glass, the more I realized how rare it is and how difficult it is to manufacture.
Today, there are only a few factories in Japan that can produce milk glass. We wondered if we could somehow establish a system to continue producing it. With this wish in mind, we started a business called milk glass mugs with original prints.
CRAFT Connecting Craftsmanship
Tsunagu Craft,Inc.’s products are manufactured at a glass factory in Tohoku, and the designs are printed at a pottery factory in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, the hometown of Mino ware.
Why produce glass products in the birthplace of ceramics?
Some people may be surprised to hear this, but the reason for Tsunagu Craft,Inc.’s existence is to cross-fertilize different technologies.In Japan, there are countless traditional crafts such as iron, glass, ceramics, and textiles scattered throughout the country.
Milk glass, in which the techniques and spirits of these unique traditional crafts are fully incorporated, is synonymous with us. We believe that new value will surely emerge from collaborations that transcend the boundaries of materials.
TECHNIQUE Connecting Technology and Pride
We believe that one of our missions is not only to create good products while sometimes clashing with stubborn craftsmen who have been dealing with glass and ceramics for many years, but also to hand down the techniques handed down from generation to generation to the younger generation. Therefore, at Tsunagu Craft,Inc., we begin production by carefully explaining to all craftspeople involved in the process what kind of company or brand is requesting the work and what they are looking for. We want them to understand their work and work with pride. And we will increase the number of human resources who will be responsible for manufacturing in Japan, even if only a little. What interesting products will be born in the future beyond that? We will continue to make milk glass, dreaming of the future.