The Origins of "Niji": The Maverick of Ryukyu Glass

Ryukyu glass has its roots in postwar Okinawa, where artisans began melting and repurposing empty Coke and beer bottles discarded by stationed U.S. forces. Born from the hardship of resource scarcity, this craft has evolved in step with Okinawan history. Moriyoshi Inamine, the founder of Chubuki Glass Studio Niji, was an artisan right in the middle of it all.

Moriyoshi initially worked at a large-scale glass craft facility in Itoman City. At the time, there was a movement to consolidate the numerous glass studios scattered across Okinawa. However, Moriyoshi, a craftsman with a fiercely independent spirit and a drive to create on his own terms, couldn't conform to the rigid structure. He left the facility after only three months and, after a stint at places like the Okuhara Glass Factory in Naha, forged his own path to independence.

His journey to independence was fraught with challenges. After his first studio failed, he aimed for a comeback, working out of a corner of a former foreigner's residence in Oyama, Ginowan City. The turning point arrived unexpectedly. A plate he had crafted was being used for lunch specials at a local café. A pottery expert spotted the plate and was immediately struck by the unique quality of Moriyoshi's glasswork.

At the time, "Yachimun no Sato" in Yomitan was strictly a village for potters, with no precedent for welcoming a glass studio. However, supporters who recognized Moriyoshi's immense talent made an exception, allowing him to establish his workshop there. And so, Chubuki Glass Studio Niji began its journey as the sole glassblowing studio in a village celebrated for its pottery.