Starting in Fukagawa and Moving to Otaru for a Fresh Start

Please tell us about the founding history of Fukagawa Glass and its journey up to today.

Our company was established in 1906. Our founding history began when my great-grandfather's mentor, Yukimasa Ida, set up a factory in the Fukagawa district (now Sumiyoshi area) of Tokyo. Back then, we were commissioned by the national government to produce jars for storing salt and medicines.

Though the factory gradually expanded, it was entirely destroyed during the Great Kanto Earthquake. We reconstructed it, but since jars started to become machine-manufacturable, their sales declined over time.

As a result, from around the middle of the Showa period (1926-1989), our company shifted to the manufacture of tableware. Initially, we only manufactured products like business-use cups, as these were affordable. However, we also wanted to produce special glasses with a distinct feel, so we began honing various skills.

A continuation of our high-end dining ware production went on until the Heisei period (1989-2019). However, in 2003, we faced issues related to the aging of our Tokyo factory. While the factory was initially surrounded by other factories, more residential homes had been built around it by that time, making it difficult to rebuild the factory in the same location.

That led to discussions about relocating to Otaru. The idea came up during a conversation between my father and the president of Kitaichi Glass in Otaru, with whom we had a long-standing relationship. By relocating to Otaru, not only would it facilitate communication due to the proximity but also make product transportation more convenient. Therefore, the decision to move was made based on these factors.

Were there any changes following the relocation?

Prior to the move, our company had about 40 employees, but that number was cut in half.

However, seeing this as an opportunity during the factory reconstruction, my father reviewed our facilities. The current factory reuses the water in the underground tanks and uses the heat generated from running the factory to circulate warmth in the winter. Even before the concept of SDGs gained popularity, we have always strived to run our business considering both people and the planet's future.