Immediately following Wookshow 3: Weekend at Graffy’s at Everdream Studio, members of the DreamLab Glass crew, Joe Peters, Glass Otaku, and myself, Dave Peters, flew to Tokyo to attend the 2015 All Japan Show. 
After an exceptionally long flight, we finally made it to the Park Hotel near Shimbashi Station in downtown Tokyo. The Park Hotel is decorated with modern artwork by contemporary Japanese artists. The hotel lobby is designed as a museum with large sculpture pieces, tapestries, and murals curated throughout the lobby and reception area.
Another feature the hotel offers is Artists Rooms that are each individually designed by local artists. Joe had the privilege of staying in the room created by Aki Narita entitled, Geisha Goldfish. This room had goldfish painted all over the walls and ceiling that gave the illusion that the guest is floating inside an aquarium. There is also a bewitching geisha mural painted in the room. The room that Glass Otaku and I stayed in had a wonderful view facing southwest. In the early mornings we could see the gentle outline of Mount Fuji rising behind the concrete metropolis.
Once we had settled in, we prepared to go out to dinner with the All Japan Show crew, which includes some of the best borosilicate glass makers in the world. Generally speaking, the Japanese are known for their technical control in glassmaking and detail-oriented patterning. The patriarch of the group is Yoshinori Kondo on the account that his English is the most proficient. Other members include Junichi Kojima aka Rose Roads, Daisuke Saito aka DISK , Takao Mayaki, AKIO, T.K. Happa, Aquarius, and the elusive SLOP. It was a great opportunity to break the ice with both the artists and the show-goers, as we drank highballs and grilled tasty meats and veggies on the barbecue. The restaurant was a cook-it-yourself style Korean establishment, although it wasn’t traditional Japanese food, it was both fun and delicious.
Thanks to Brian Bowden for the photo
The day of the show, our jet lag had the three of us tossing and turning around 5 AM, so we decided to head over to the Le Deco Gallery space, and to our surprise, we were the first three people in line. Moments later, Jon Green arrived and before too long, there was a twenty person queue of mostly North Americans waiting on the street outside the gallery space.
‘Onigari’ which translates to ‘Demon Hunter’ in Japanese. A collaboration by Yoshi Kondo, Rose Roads, Daisuke Saito, Takao Miyake, T.K. Happa, Aquarius, and AKIO.
We were so pleased that some of our old and new friends were able to make it to the show. One of the best glass blowers out there today Sleek was able to do some collaborations with Yoshi following the show. Some teasers of their pieces have been published on Sleek’s IG and look stunning. Sleek’s fellow shop-mate Nick Bailey was able to take some time to work with T.K. Happa after the show as well. We were also excited to see Adam Kandel, Brian Bowden, and the Hive Ceramics crew also came to the All Japan Show to support the efforts of Team Japan.
Joe P holding the #1 position in line for the All Japan Show
Waiting in line for the All Japan Show
Sales at the show were determined by each buyer’s position in the line. As Joe, Otaku, and myself were the first three in line, we were able to have dibs on any three pieces in the show we’d like. After our initial selection of one piece each, the queue would continue on until the last person in line (#24, I recall) had chosen the piece they would like, and then it would reset back to the top. This sales strategy is the most fair style I have seen yet, because it allows just about everyone who is interested in purchasing to have a chance to get their desired piece.
“5D C.U.P.” by SLOP
All in all, it was a fantastic day. Joe managed to scoop the 5D C.U.P. by SLOP and a Rose Roads pendy with two smoking tipis for his persy collection. Mike and I grabbed a DISK yellow colorcomb mosaic mini tube. We also purchased the Kondo X Rose Roads “Kusanagi” pendant as well as an Akio X Kinda pendant for resale on the DreamLab Glass Vault, a fine art collection for resale through the DreamLab Glass online store.
We were so pleased by the turnout for the show and would like to deeply thank the Team Japan crew for putting on the All Japan Show this past August. We were so thankful that everyone who travelled to and from the show did so safely, and we look forward to a time when we can host the Team Japan crew back at our DreamLab Glass Studio in Evergreen, Colorado. Until that time there is still work from the show available on this website, and welcome anyone serious about purchasing to contact us through the site with inquiries.
(from left to right) Junichi Kojima, Daisuke Saito, Yoshinori Kondo and Joe Peters.
