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.