Keep it long, treasure it long.

A glass that fits comfortably in your hand

Hizen Vidro's Free Cup was created in response to the demand for a larger shochu glass. The wide mouth makes it easy to put ice in, and the capacity is about 380ml. Pour shochu into a glass filled with ice and drink it. This glass makes those evening drinks a little more luxurious. Another great thing about this cup is that it can be used for a variety of purposes, not just for drinking alcohol, but because it's a one-size-fits-all cup. Great for any occasion, including barley tea with ice, juice, and black tea.

Air-blown glass has the charm of being a one-of-a-kind item because even the same product can have subtle differences in shape and pattern. You can enjoy this charm with Hizen Vidro's long-selling "Jomon Series" vessels. The blue rope pattern has a nostalgic feel to it, and the slightly wavy glass gives you a sense of the warmth of handiwork. This series has long been popular among Hizen Vidro, not only because of its design, but also because it is light and easy to hold.

Glass to enjoy individuality

Air blowing is the oldest and most technically demanding glassblowing technique. In general, glassblowing can be broadly divided into "mold-blowing" and "air-blowing". "Mold-blowing" is literally a technique of blowing air into a mold, and requires a high level of skill when forming. Since it is made by fitting it into a mold without the need for a mold, the shape and size are uniform.

On the other hand, ``air blowing'' is a technique in which the pieces are shaped using only the skills of craftsmen, using only a few tools and no molds. Because they are formed in the air, each shape is unique, but each shape has a somewhat natural and gentle texture, and its surface is smooth and glossy. At Hizen Vidro, almost all of our products are made using the air-blowing method, and although the same product may have different patterns and shapes, the essence of air-blowing is that it adds to the flavor.

No two handmade cups have exactly the same pattern, making each cup a one-of-a-kind item that allows you to experience the craftsmanship firsthand. Easy to use on a daily basis, the free cup comes in a gorgeous color and comes in a cosmetic box, so it would make a great gift not only for your home, but also as a wedding gift or moving gift. Ropes are used to tie things together or pull things together, so it is an auspicious pattern that brings happiness. Hizen Vidro gives off a crisp beauty when placed on a desk, making cold drinks even more delicious. Also makes a great gift for shochu lovers.

The fantastic technique of Japan blowing *The Jomon series is made by air blowing.

One of the reasons why Hizen Vidro is designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Saga City is because of the air-blown glass technique called "Japan Blowing." It is one of the rarest techniques in the world, and is the only one in Japan that is used only in Hizen Vidro.It is also known as the phantom technique, and is characterized by the fact that one craftsman handles two glass rods at the same time. This is because products made by Japan Blowing have spouts. This is because the body part is made first, and then the glass is attached to another glass rod and glued to the body to create the spout.

The reason why Japanese blowing is said to be a myth is because of the difficulty in learning the technique. Normally, iron blowing rods are used to manufacture glass blowing, but Japan Blowing uses glass blowing rods. In addition to the fact that blowing with a long, thin glass blowing rod requires skill, tempering (during manufacturing, the temperature of the glass drops and hardens, which makes it difficult to shape) is done by reheating the glass many times. Since it is not possible to maintain a constant temperature, everything must be done quickly and it becomes a one-shot battle. Due to the difficulty of creating shapes by relying on centrifugal force and the center of gravity, it takes several decades to become an expert, and it is said that he is known as a dual wielder because of the way he deftly manipulates two rods.

This is a special technique that is only applied to a few Hizen Vidro products, but it gives the unique shape and texture that is typical of Hizen Vidro. Among the Hizen Vidro products sold at ZUTTO, Hizen kanbin is made using this technique.

Hizen Vidro, which has been around since the Edo period

In 1852, the lord of the Nabeshima domain set up a refining process for cannon casting in the Tabuse River basin of Saga City, and as part of that process, he also had him manufacture glassware, which is said to be Hizen Vidro. Seirenkata is what is now known as the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research. It was a facility designed to develop and improve technologies to protect and strengthen the clan, such as cannon casting, and a glass kiln, which was rare at the time, was built to mainly make beakers and flasks for scientific experiments. The glass technology cultivated here spread to the manufacturing of daily necessities such as lamps and tableware during the Meiji Restoration. Seirenkata became a private company called Seirensho, and from there Genichiro Soejima became independent in 1901 and founded Soejima Glass Industry.

While Hizen Vidro, which could only be made by craftsmen, is disappearing due to the wave of modern mechanization, we have become the only producer of Hizen Vidro and continue to preserve the long-standing traditional technique of ``Japan blowing''. .