Koppu
Substantial in weight yet soft in hand, these clear glass tumblers celebrate the subtle imperfections of free-blown glass. The organic thickness catches light beautifully, bringing quiet warmth to daily drinks.
Blown glass is normally made by several people working in sync before the glass cools. Kodani does all of it alone, with tools he makes himself. He has blown this same form since the 1980s, and the small differences from piece to piece are a record of that repetition.
Eiji Kodani
Eiji Kodani is the standard-bearer of Kurashiki Glass, a legendary lineage in Japanese craft. Born in 1961 as the son of Shinzo Kodani—the pioneer who revolutionized Japanese glassblowing - Eiji inherited more than just technique; he inherited a philosophy. In an era of mass production, Kurashiki Glass remains a "one-man, one-furnace" discipline. Unlike factory-made crystal, Eiji executes every stage of the process alone, from the initial breath to the final shaping. This intense, singular focus results in glass that is remarkably thick, durable, and possessed of an "unadorned elegance."
Eiji’s work is a masterful balance of rugged functionality and poetic form. His mastery is so profound that it often surpasses even his father’s legendary standards. By adhering to the Mingei (Folk Art) ethos of "honesty and unpretentious grace," Eiji creates vessels that are not meant for museum cases, but to be the beating heart of a living home. His "Kurenai" works represent the pinnacle of this spirit - capturing the raw, primal energy of Japan in a single, breath-formed masterpiece.
