Japanese Crafts Born from the Upcycling of Floating Balls Tsugaru Vidro “DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION-”
Category: Goods made in JAPAN
Hello, I’m Hakoboya, the Souvenir Promotion Captain for Kodawari Times! ╭(·ᴗ·)╮╰(·ᴗ·)╯
“Tsugaru Vidro – 津軽びいどろ” is a traditional craft that represents Aomori Prefecture in Japan. It’s beautiful, handcrafted glass, with each piece carefully blown by artisans.
Today, I’d like to introduce the “DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION-” glassware series, created by upcycling glass floats. Be sure to check out this eco-friendly, sustainable Tsugaru Vidro.
What is Tsugaru Vidro?
“Tsugaru Vidro” is a traditional craft from the Tsugaru region in western Aomori Prefecture, located at the northernmost tip of Honshu, Japan. The term ‘vidro’ comes from the Portuguese word for glass, “vidro,” and has long been used in Japan to refer to glass products.
Tsugaru Bidoro began in 1949 with “Hokuyo Glass Co., Ltd.,” a factory founded in Aomori to manufacture glass floats for the fishing industry. By applying the techniques used for making floats, artisans developed these into glass products that combine beauty and practicality, giving birth to the traditional craft known as “Tsugaru Bidoro.”
Some pieces are crafted using the “free-blowing technique,” in which skilled artisans shape the glass by blowing into it without using a mold, so each piece is unique—and that handmade warmth is what makes them so appealing.
Their most distinctive feature is the vibrant patterns that depict Japan’s beautiful landscapes and the four seasons of Aomori, and they offer a wide variety of products, including tableware, home decor, and accessories.
Upcycling Glass Float
The “DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION-” series shines a new light on “ukidama (glass floats)”—the very roots of Tsugaru Vidro. Focusing on the global issue of reducing marine debris, this series upcycles glass floats once used in fishing into new glassware.
The story behind this series is that these buoys, which originally served a purpose on the ocean, are reborn through the hands of artisans and now play a role as tableware that adds color to everyday life.
Here, let’s take a closer look at what inspired the development and the manufacturing process.
The Motivation Behind the Development
In 1973, Hokuyo Glass Co., Ltd. rose to become the leading domestic producer of glass floats. However, as time went on, plastic buoys became the norm, leading to a problem where unwanted glass floats were piled up and left abandoned in fishing ports.
After receiving a request for help from a local fishing cooperative struggling with how to dispose of these items, Hokuyo Glass—a glass factory with a history of manufacturing buoys—decided to collect the glass floats and turn them into new products, driven by a desire to “avoid wasting existing resources” and “preserve Aomori’s beautiful scenery.”
Manufacturing Process
Hokuyo Glass collects discarded float glass balls, removes the mesh, cleans them thoroughly, wipes off any moisture, and then, after crushing and melting them down, craftsmen reshape them by hand.
We melt down about 100 float glass balls at a time; for example, a single float glass ball (weighing about 3 kg) yields about 24 upcycled wind chimes. We don’t use any colored glass or special processing—we simply melt down the recycled float glass to achieve a natural color.
Using traditional techniques such as “free-blowing,” honed through years of glass bead-making, skilled artisans carefully blow air into each piece by hand. The tiny air bubbles that form specifically because the glass is recycled create a unique texture, ensuring that no two pieces are exactly alike.
“DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION-” Item List
These fishing floats are made from 100% recycled glass, giving them a unique, deep blue-green hue. Currently, there are nine items available across the first and second collections.
First Release
The rounded shapes of single-flower vases, flower containers, and wind chimes evoke the image of what were once glass beads, while pitchers and mosquito repellent burners are adorned with patterns of waves from the vast ocean off Aomori; when held up to the light, they cast shimmering shadows.
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Single-Stem Vase
Size: Max. 70 × H 65 mm
Price (tax included): 4,400 yen
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Flower Vase
Size: Max. 85 × H 80 mm
Price (tax included): 4,950 yen
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Wind Chime
Size: Max. 84 × H 76 mm
Price (tax included): 6,600 yen
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Pitcher
Dimensions: Width 160 × Depth 120 × Height 190 mm × Capacity 800 ml
Price (tax included): 30,800 yen
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Mosquito Repellent
Dimensions: Max. 80–180 × Height 90 mm
Price (tax included): 13,200 yen
Second Release
Our collection features drinking vessels designed for everyday use, ranging from thin, smooth-textured rocks glasses with a pleasant mouthfeel—retaining their simple yet curved shapes and wave patterns reminiscent of the sea—to stemmed glasses crafted using the “free-blowing” technique by master artisans.
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Rock Glass
Dimensions: Max. 90 × Diameter 90 × Height 90 mm
Capacity: 250 ml
Price (tax included): 8,800 yen
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Glass with Stand
Dimensions: Max. 75 × Diameter 65 × Height 140 mm
Capacity: 230 ml
Price (tax included): 19,800 yen
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Rock Glass Set
2 Rock Glasses
Dimensions: Max. 90 × Diameter 90 × Height 90 mm
Capacity: 250 ml
Price (tax included): 17,600 yen
Tsugaru Vidro DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION- UKIDAMA Sake Glass Set
1 sake bottle, 2 sake cups
Size (Tokuri): Max. 90 × Diameter 40 × Height 126 mm
Capacity: Approx. 320 ml
Size (Sake Cup): Max. 55 × Diameter 55 × Height 50 mm
Capacity: 70 ml
Price (tax included): 22,000 yen
*As each piece is handcrafted by a glass artisan, there may be slight variations in size, color, pattern, and weight.
Why not pick up some sustainable traditional crafts as souvenirs?
Tsugaru Vidro’s “DOUBLE F -UKIDAMA EDITION-” isn’t just a recycled product—it’s a new craft item created with a focus on the concept of “upcycling.”
It breathes new life into discarded buoys, transforming them into more attractive and durable products.
Born from the sea, returning once more to people’s lives. Why not choose this story-rich, eco-friendly, sustainable product as a souvenir from Japan?
As a step toward marine conservation, why not incorporate it into your lifestyle?
Sales Location
・Tsugaru Vidro Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Store
Address: 2-2-1 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo; 2nd Floor, Tokyo Midtown Yaesu Central Tower
Access: Direct underground connection from JR “Tokyo” Station (via Yaesu Underground Mall)
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Closed: Follows facility schedule
Phone Number: 03-6225-2955
Details Page: https://tsugaruvidro.jp/about/midtownyaesu.html
・Tsugaru Vidro Online Shop
Official Website: https://tsugaruvidro-online.com/
・Hokuyo Glass Direct Store “Aomori Direct Shop”
Address: 4-29-13 Tomita, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture 038-0004
Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Phone: 017-782-5183
▼If you’re interested in Aomori Prefecture and the Tsugaru region, check this out too
