Put the shimmer and romance of Lake Biwa in the glass …

The fine bubbles and the pale, soft green glass products are the “Biwako-Iro” series derived from the aquatic plants of Lake Biwa. The desire to create a new color that is unique to Shiga … That desire leads to the development of Biwako-Iro. Meeting with a company working on organic waste treatment and recycling in the same city, gives idea for success of making the aquatic plants of Lake Biwa to the ash by high-speed powder processing and melting into glass for coloring development. The pale and transparent green color is not the color of the chloroplasts of aquatic plants, but the iron contained in the aquatic plants. Since aquatic plants are natural, it seems that it was very difficult to stabilize the color and mix them.

“There are many lives in Lake Biwa, which has been connected since ancient times. It would be great if you could think of Lake Biwa and feel the romance in its gentle colors,” says Akemi Kaminaga. She is conducting research to bring out the blue color from aquatic plants currently, and Ms Kaminaga’s challenge continues. “Is it possible to make such a beautiful glass from the aquatic plants of Lake Biwa? It’s very nice.” Biwako-Iro series are very popular, and it includes vases, aquamaniles, glasses and accessories. It is available to purchase it at the exhibition hall of Ms. Kaminaga along with the museum shop of Lake Biwa Museum, Kurokabe Glass Studio in Kurokabe Building #2.