Biography of Asahara Chiyoji
Asahara Chiyoji / Glass Artist

Born in Osaka in 1947, Asahara Chiyoji grew up in a family involved in glass manufacturing, which fostered his early interest in the material. From 1969, he spent ten years honing his skills in functional glassware at Sanyu Glass in Shiga Prefecture. Seeking a more expressive approach to glass beyond industrial production, he founded his own studio, The Glass Studio in Otaru, in 1979. Asahara became a pioneering figure in the studio glass movement in Hokkaido.

In 1986, he relocated his studio to the foot of Mt. Tenguyama in Otaru, establishing a new facility that included a gallery and shop alongside the workshop. Emphasizing interaction with visitors, he opened the creative process to the public and continued to explore new forms of expression. He has since held numerous solo and group exhibitions across Japan and abroad and has been invited to international glass studios and art fairs, earning high acclaim both domestically and internationally.

His works—ranging from bowls to vases and sculptural objects—are known for their gentle textures, poetic forms, and the use of vibrant color, metallic foil, and air bubbles. Inspired by Northern European and British glass traditions, his creations also reflect the spirit and aesthetics of everyday life in Japan.

Asahara continues to work and teach at his studio in Otaru, committed to passing on his knowledge to the next generation and to embodying the principles of the studio glass movement through his practice.