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About Sugahara

Pursuing the Possibilities with Glass

Since our beginnings in 1932, in Tokyo, our artisans at Sugahara have applied traditional Japanese design techniques to reveal and express the beauty of glass in ways never before seen, in handcrafted glassware for the tabletop and other uses.

“Glass is alive.” “Communicate with glass.” These expressions may sound funny to you but this is how Sugahara artisans talk about glass. They communicate with glass by observing it and hearing its “voice” every day. As the artisans capture and shape the glass at its key moment – when it is extremely hot liquid – flowing liquid-like forms are created in keeping with the unique consistencies and intensity of the material, and the infinite characteristics of glass are explored and revealed to maximum effect in the end product. 

Our goal is glassware that pleases you when you hold it, and that livens up and brings warmth to your table when you entertain your friends and loved ones.

Company History

1932
Kazuma Sugahara begins a private business manufacturing glassware at what is now 4-chome, Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo
1943
Merges to establish Tokyo Glassware Industry Co., Ltd., following the issuing of a Corporate Reorganization Order
1946
Begins manufacturing independently again at previous location
April 1950
Relocates the factory to 33-13, Tachibana 4-chome, Sumida-ku, Tokyo, and establishes Sugahara Glass Co., Ltd.
September 1961
Establishes Sugahara Glassworks Inc. at 797 Fujishita, Kujukuri-machi, Sanbu-gun, Chiba, with the new factory beginning operation in August 1962.
November 1974
Establishes a sales company Keiyo Glassware Co., Ltd. within Sugahara Glass Co., Ltd., moving from subcontracted manufacture to an independent business handling original products.
A research group for product development is established within Sugahara Glassworks Inc., mainly comprising craftsmen, to step up the development of new products.
1984
Begins developing products designed by Shohei Mihara.
September 1984
Exhibits at the Good Design Corner of Japan Exhibition, organized by a department store in New York, which marks the start of exports to Europe, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and other countries.
November 1984
Establishes Glass House Co., Ltd. at Roi Building, 5-1-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, and begins retailing and wholesaling.
January 1986
Holds the GLASS SITUATION Exhibition of new products at Axis Gallery in Roppongi, which subsequently becomes a regular event.
January 1988
Changes name from Keiyo Glassware Co., Ltd. to Sugahara Corporation.
March 1988
Relocates Glass House to 2F, Hiroo 23 Building, 5-14-14 Minami Azabu, Minato-ku.
April 1988
Invites experts in glass blowing and copper wheel engraving from Czechoslovakia, to learn the techniques.
January 1989
Begins manufacture and sales of glassware designed by Borek Sipek.
June 1992
Starts developing glassware designed by Dominic Habsburg, with sales commencing in October.
October 1992
Starts developing glassware designed by Izabel Lam, with sales commencing in the same month.
December 1994
Reorganizes Glass House Co., Ltd. into Glass House Sugahara, Inc.
February 1995
Opens Glass House Sugahara Ashiya Shop at 3-1 Matsunouchi-cho, Ashiya-shi, Hyogo.
July 1998
Opens Glass House Sugahara Aoyama Shop at 3-10-18 Kita Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, to bolster retail operations.
Head office of Glass House Sugahara, Inc. relocates to the shop.
October 1998
Invites two craftsmen from Ajeto Glassworks of the Czech Republic, for technical exchange.
March 1999
Begins developing and selling glass tiles, door knobs, tables, outdoor lighting, and other handmade glassware products for cities and architecture.
August 2000
Opens Glass House Sugahara Sendai Shop at 23-19, Tachi-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi, Miyagi.
December 2000
Invites two craftsmen from Ajeto Glassworks of Czech Republic, for technical exchange, which is subsequently held each year.
January 2003
Exhibits works for the first time at maison & objet, a fair held in Paris, France, with products subsequently exhibited at the fair twice every year.
Begins full-scale sales of products to the European market.
October 2003
Opens Glass House Sugahara Plus Shop at 5-11-23, Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, as a showroom for business-use tableware and architectural materials.
October 2004
Exhibits at Tokyo Designers Week Container Exhibition, and is awarded Design Premio.
November 2005
Exhibits at interior design fair 100% Design Tokyo, and announces lamp shades and other products.
February 2008
Sugahara Glassworks Inc. and Glass House Sugahara, Inc. merge, with aim of manufacturing products from a perspective that is even closer to users.
February 2008
Announces new logo mark, and begins engraving mark on new products.
June 2008
Glass House Sugahara, managed directly by Sugahara Glassworks Inc, changes name to Sugahara Shops.
September 2009
SGHR Sugahara Shop Osaka opens on 3F of Hilton Plaza west.
Begins full-scale jewelry development, and announces SGHR Jewelry.

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