A powerful sweeping wave below, a quieter repeating seigaiha pattern above — two different ideas of water in one Edo Kiriko glass.

Yamada Glass “Sazanami” Rock Glass A / Kin-aka is an Edo Kiriko tumbler built around the theme of waves. Deep polished curves express rough, forceful movement, while the traditional seigaiha motif preserves areas of colour and introduces a calmer rhythm. The upper section is finished with Yamada Glass’s original En-tsunagi pattern.

In the vivid kin-aka red overlay, deep transparent cuts and fine patterned surfaces react very differently to light, giving the glass a strong sense of depth and motion.

Sazanami combines two different waves

Yamada Glass officially describes Sazanami as a work combining two expressions of waves.

The first is a deep, bold and turbulent wave, rising diagonally across the lower body in broad polished cuts.

The second is the traditional Japanese seigaiha wave pattern, cut while deliberately retaining areas of coloured glass to create a calmer, repeating water motif.

Although both motifs depict water, their visual languages are completely different: movement against repetition, deep cutting against fine patterning.

En-tsunagi, an original Yamada Glass pattern

The finely worked upper section features En-tsunagi, one of Yamada Glass’s original motifs.

The workshop has long combined inherited Edo Kiriko patterns with contemporary design, and En-tsunagi is one of the clearest examples of that approach.

Its dense network of cuts breaks light into small points of brilliance, creating a highly detailed surface above the larger wave forms below.

The contrast in scale — broad curves below and tightly repeated pattern above — gives the entire vessel a distinctly three-dimensional appearance.

Kin-aka red amplifies the contrast between colour and clear crystal

The colour presented here is kin-aka, a vivid traditional red used in Japanese cut glass.

Because the coloured overlay is cut through to reveal clear crystal beneath, the broad polished waves appear almost transparent while the finer patterned sections retain more red.

This creates gradations within a single colour: transparent highlights, concentrated red areas and bright reflected edges.

Under directional lighting, the effect extends beyond the glass itself as the cuts project patterns of red and clear light onto the surrounding surface.

Three generations and 80 years of Yamada Glass

Hari-sho Yamada Glass is based in Sumida, Tokyo.

The workshop describes itself as having spent three generations and roughly 80 years refining both Edo Kiriko and hana-kiriko techniques.

Its roots reach back to Eitaro Yamada, who learned glass-cutting techniques connected to British cutter Emmanuel Hauptmann. That knowledge passed through founder Tomonobu Yamada and second-generation Teruo Yamada to third-generation artisan Masaaki Yamada.

One of the workshop’s defining characteristics today is the ability to combine the sharp geometry of Edo Kiriko with the softer curved language associated with hana-kiriko.

Sazanami is a particularly clear example of those two sensibilities meeting in one glass.

80mm in diameter, 90mm high, made from crystal glass

Yamada Glass lists the Sazanami rock glass at 80mm in diameter and 90mm in height, made from crystal glass.

Sumida City’s official hometown-tax listings also use the product designation “Sazanami A” for glasses of the same dimensions and material.

The public product information does not clearly define what the “A” designation itself signifies, so it is retained here only as part of the product name.

Yamada Glass “Sazanami” Rock Glass A / Kin-aka

Japan | Sumida, Tokyo | Hari-sho Yamada Glass | Edo Kiriko | Rock glass | Sazanami | A / Kin-aka | Crystal glass | 80mm diameter × 90mm height

Broad turbulent waves, colour-retaining seigaiha and fine En-tsunagi come together in one vessel, creating an Edo Kiriko glass that balances the power and calmness of water through contrasting cuts.

Available at IMAMI

IMAMI is a specialist retailer offering wine, whisky, sake and other fine spirits, together with Japanese drinking vessels including Edo Kiriko glassware. We carefully select each bottle and piece with attention to the craftsmanship, history and culture behind it.

For in-store product availability, please enquire at IMAMI Ginza or IMAMI Shinsaibashi, or contact us.

Product selection and availability vary by store.

New arrivals are announced on our official Instagram @imami__japan and in our NEWS archive.