The Czech Glass and Garnet Exhibition
15.04.2024 / 04:12 | Aktualizováno: 24.04.2024 / 04:15
The Czech Glass ad Garnet Exhibition was held at the Embassy of Czech Republic in Tokyo from April 11th to 13th, 2024. The exhibition was opened by Czech Ambassador to Japan H.E. Martin Klučar, reflecting on the long tradition of Czech Glass in Japan, associated with the Osaka World Expositions (EXPO) in 1970 and 2025 as well.
At the exhibition, traditional glass products made by Czech famous glass companies including Moser, Caesar Crystal Bohemiae, Egermann, and Loetz, were displayed as well as art pieces from contemporary Czech glass artists currently based in Japan, Ms. Kristyna Venturova and Mr. Jiří Suchý were showcased. Both artists have been working closely with the Toyama Institute of Glass Art and Tokyo University of the Arts respectively, in order to enhance the recognition of Czech glass in Japan. At this event, a variety of traditional Czech decorative glass artworks were exhibited, from hand-blown sculptures to cut glass vases and contemporary glass sculptures.
Japan has long been a prominent market for top-tier Czech glass pieces. The reason behind this is because Japanese people are attracted to the transparency of glass, as well as captivating effects of light and shadow that seamlessly blend into the surroundings without interfering with them. Moreover, decades of strong appraisals for Czech glass in Japan are reflected not only in numerous exhibitions by Czech artists but also in the preference of Japanese customers to purchase Czech glass. This event contributed towards raising awareness of Czech glass brands in Japan among diplomats, business partners, and the general public.
Another significant aspect of the exhibition was the showcase of the jewelry collection from Granát Turnov company, a traditional producer of the original jewellery with Czech garnets since 1953. Representatives of the company not only succeeded in introducing their products to potential customers but also engaged in a series of negotiations in regards to the possibility of collaboration with local partners as potential distributors. Further, Mr. Roman Watanabe, Chairman of the Czech Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (CCCIJ), announced during the opening ceremony that the company had become a new member of the CCCIJ, reinforcing their commitment to the Japanese market.