◆History of Niitsu glass industry◆  In the past, Niitsu, Akiha-ku, Niigata City prospered as a railroad town where three major train lines crossed. The area was known all over the country as the main glass producer. The railroad brought raw materials and shipped out finished product. The nearby oil field provided abundance of natural gas for glass furnaces. Under these conditions Niitsu’s success in the glass industry is no surprise. At the peak, more than a dozen glass factories were in operation. The products that were made are diverse. They include lighting fixtures, tableware, drinking glasses, fishbowls, perfume bottles, chandelier arms, lamp shades, and others. There were hundreds of glass … Continue reading Glass industry in Niigata, a thing of the present!