Sugahara Handmade Glassworks - Wakan - Glass Matcha Bowl - Forest / 菅原工芸硝子 Sghr

At the heart of SGHR Sugahara is a quiet but powerful belief: glass is not a static material — it is alive. Each piece is shaped through a constant conversation between molten glass and the hands of the maker, guided by experience, intuition, and deep respect for the material. This is not simply production, but a moment of collaboration, gently captured in glass. Sugahara’s work carries a warmth that can be felt the moment it is held — reflecting both the hands that shaped it and the moment in which it was made.

What truly sets Sugahara apart is its people. Here, craftsmanship is shaped by people, not process. Rather than pursuing rigid repetition or mechanical perfection, Sugahara’s artisans work with sensitivity and attentiveness, responding to how the glass moves, softens, stretches, and settles in that exact moment. Craftspeople are not merely executing designs — they are deeply involved in creation itself, listening to the glass as it glows and transforms, and capturing the precise moment when its form feels right. A culture of trust and experimentation allows this craft to remain natural, expressive, and deeply human.

Sugahara glassware is celebrated not for brilliance alone, but for its tactile warmth and quiet presence. It sits comfortably in the hand, allows light to travel softly across its surface, and enhances everyday rituals without demanding attention. Whether used for water, tea, wine, or simply placed on a table, each piece brings a sense of calm, colour, and quiet joy — glass made to be lived with, and gently cherished over time.

Murata Jukō, regarded as the founder of Wabi-cha, once described the harmony between Chinese influence and Japanese sensibility as “softening the boundary between Wa and Kan.”

Wakan is shaped from this philosophy. Drawing inspiration from the forms of Chinese Tenmoku tea bowls and Korean Goguryeo tea bowls, it reinterprets these historic influences through the expressive nature of hand-blown glass. While rooted in the world of tea, the piece is designed to suit contemporary life and may be enjoyed in many ways beyond tradition.

Each piece is handmade, resulting in subtle variations in pattern that make every bowl unique. Presented in a dedicated paulownia wood box tied in a traditional four-way knot; gift wrapping or combined wrapping with other items is not available.

As the whole piece is handmade in Japan, slight irregularities in size, glaze, colour and texture might occur and reflect the nature of the artisan product.

■ Hand-made In Japan

■ Material: Glass

■ Size: 12.4 cm diameter x H 8.7 cm

■ Comes in a box. Great as a gift!