Olde Milk-glass is a fresh Japanese take on an American classic. Founded by the man who brought Fire-King glassware (the much-loved Anchor Hocking range from the 1940s to the 1970s) back to life in Japan, the brand now lives under Tsunagu Craft, Inc. Since 2018, they’ve been behind every detail — from design to production — working with skilled glassmakers in Tohoku, each piece carries that perfect balance of vintage charm and modern design.
To celebrate the launch of the Coffee Supreme Olde Milk-glass Japanese Mug, we sat down with Mr Kenjiro Kuwazumi of Tsunagu Craft to learn about what makes these mugs so special.
Q. Each mug is made by hand up in Tohoku. Can you paint us a picture of what that looks like behind the factory doors?
A: The factory day begins at 6 am to avoid the hottest hours. Inside, there is no air conditioning, and the team works in front of a molten furnace that reaches around 1,400°C.
To prevent heat exhaustion, pickled plums (umeboshi) are always on hand. The craftsmen and quality control staff stay hydrated and occasionally eat umeboshi, a small but vital routine to get through the intense heat.
The production team consists of four people:
• One who extracts the molten glass from the furnace
• One who shapes the glass using a manual press
• One who refines the surface by reheating the glass with a burner flame
• And an assistant who supports each step
Every stage is entirely handmade, with no automated machinery. It takes six full days to complete a single mug, including inspection and cleaning.
For printing, each mug is decorated individually at a factory in Gifu using a water-slide decal technique. Skilled craftsmen, known as hariko, apply the decals by hand with incredible precision.
Q: How does traditional Japanese craftsmanship shape these mugs?
A: At our factory, every press is done by hand. Many other makers, particularly overseas, use machines for this process.
I once asked why we do not use machines, and the answer was simple. Craftsmen can feel how the molten glass flows into the mould. If a little more glass pours in than usual, they instinctively adjust their pressure and movement.
Machines would be more efficient, and they can produce perfectly smooth, uniform surfaces. But it is the human touch, with all its sensitivity and nuance, that gives Olde Milk-glass its unique, beautifully imperfect character. It is something mass production simply cannot replicate.
Q: Olde Milk-glass feels both vintage and fresh. How do you strike that balance?
A: Some of our designs take inspiration from classic milk glass forms. Our flagship, the Friday Morning Mug, was created with modern Japanese living in mind. We considered the ideal capacity for coffee, tea, or hot milk, and designed the handle so people of all ages can hold it comfortably. In that sense, it is a new Japanese interpretation of milk glass.
Texture is also important. Many people today are so used to plastic that they sometimes mistake milk glass for it at first glance. The smooth feel of glass on the lips and the reassuring weight in the hand often come as a pleasant surprise.
Q: These mugs are made to be used. What makes them perfect for everyday life?
A: I am not sure there is a special reason. Personally, I simply hope people use them freely and enjoy them without worrying too much.
Q: This is a global release across New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. How does it feel to see Olde Milk-glass find homes so far from where it started?
A: It makes us truly happy. When we founded the company, we set out not only to share our products within Japan, but also to once again send Japanese milk glass to the United States, where the tradition began, and then to people around the world.
Seeing overseas customers embrace our work gives us confidence that we can continue to carry traditional Japanese glassmaking into the future.
Q: What is next for Olde Milk-glass?
A: We would like to expand beyond printing and explore new techniques for finishing glass. Spray coating, rubber coating, and other processes are on our radar, all with the aim of creating even more expressive and valuable products.
Q: If you had to sum up the spirit of Olde Milk-glass in one line, what would it be?
A: To keep creating and to pass that craftsmanship forward.
