Hokuyo Glass was established in 1949 in the Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost region of Japan's main island. The company initially built its reputation not on decorative art glass, but as a manufacturer of glass fishing floats, known as ukidama. By 1973, their superior Chubuki (free-blowing) craftsmanship made them the top producer of glass floats in all of Japan.

A major turning point in the company's design history was the "Accidental Green." According to brand lore, an artisan decided to mix a handful of sand from the local Shichiri-Nagahama beach into the glass melt. The specific minerals in the sand reacted, turning the transparent glass a brilliant, deep green. Because their remote geographic location made it difficult to import pre-coloured glass, this discovery sparked an obsession with bespoke colour formulation, prompting Hokuyo to mix all their own vibrant colours in-house.

When plastic began replacing glass in the fishing industry, Hokuyo pivoted. Utilising their traditional glassblowing techniques, the artisans began crafting heavy, colourful art glass and home decor. During the mid-century export boom of the 1960s and 1970s, their high-quality pieces were frequently distributed worldwide under the Kamei Glass branding.

This dedication to handmade craftsmanship eventually led to the launch of their famous ‘Tsugaru Vidro’ line in 1977. Today, Hokuyo Glass (now operating under the Ishizuka Glass Group) boasts over 100 proprietary colour recipes, with their vibrant, hand-blown pieces officially designated as a Traditional Craft of Aomori Prefecture.

THIS LISTING

Model Vase/Centrepiece
Production 1960s/70s

Colour Olive Green

Dimensions 24cm tall, 16.5cm wide

Condition Excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks or major scratches. There are some bubbles in the glass from manufacturing and some light surface scratches, mainly towards the base; expected and seen often in these types of pieces.