Fujita ───── Sachi Fujikake’s previous work of this series received the Honorable Mention at the International Exhibition of Glass Kanazawa 2013. At that time she studied at the Kanazawa Utatsuyama Crafts Workshop Center and she now lives in Aichi prefecture. I myself am a glass artist and I constantly wonder how other artists create their works. With Fujikake, I had difficulty in finding the answer. I imagine that she sandblasted the pattern onto the glass plates, assembled them and fused them together. Then she heated the work, used glassblowing techniques, and slightly dented the work. She is showcasing her skill in a variety of techniques, including fusing, coldwork, sandblasting, and blowing.
What impressed me most is the delicate swelling of the glass work and its slightly dented and twisted parts. I feel the indescribable mysteries of blown glass. Her previous work of this series had marks left on it from the blowing process. However, this time her work does not have any such marks. I assume that she fused these. I was totally amazed with the exquisite timing of her glassblowing.
To me, the title ‘Vestige’ means ruins, traces, a pile of time passed. She is expressing important moments of time passing and accumulating. As a whole, the work has a cleanliness from using white glass plates. It is an excellent work, and I admire it greatly.

Takeda ───── The average age of the applicants has lowered in recent years. That of the prize-winning artists has also lowered to include many in their 20’s, 30’s and early 40’s, as well as those in their 60’s. Many of the applicants are in their 30’s. This generational change shows a bright future for the glass scene of Japan and the world.
This Gold Prize winner received four votes from the jurors.