The origins of Edo Kiriko are traced back to 1834, late in the Edo period. It is said to have begun when Kagaya Kyubei, who ran a glassware shop in the Odenma-cho area of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), used emery powder to carve designs onto the surface of glass. Japanese craftsmen added their own unique ingenuity to glassware introduced from overseas, allowing it to develop into a distinct form of glass art.
Since then, the craft has survived several crises, its techniques carefully protected and passed down by artisans. In 1985, it was designated a Traditional Craft of Tokyo, and in 2002, it was recognized as a National Traditional Craft of Japan. Its history and artistry continue to be inherited to this day.