An institute affiliated with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is producing glassware using volcanic ash from Miyake Island, officials said Friday.
The glasses and bowls have been manufactured on an experimental basis with the expectation they will be marketable as souvenirs and will contribute to the economic recovery of the disaster-hit island.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute said 10 percent of the material used in the glassware is sourced from Miyake Island. Iron contained in the ash gives the glassware a transparent blue effect that the officials said is reminiscent of the beautiful sea surrounding the island.
The officials said the chemicals usually used in glassware manufacture to eliminate bubbles are not necessary in the Miyake-sourced products as the sulfur contained in the ash has the same effect as the chemicals.
The entire population of the island, located about 180 km south of Tokyo, evacuated last summer after Mount Oyama erupted. They have since been forced to live away from the island.
The mountain spewed large amounts of volcanic ash during the early phase of its activities and how to remove the accumulated debris remains a problem for authorities.