Rare Hand-Blown Japanese Blue Glass Fishing Float

Also commonly known as a Japanese glass float or a glass buoy.  These hollow glass balls were historically used by fishermen around the world, primarily in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, to keep fishing nets, longlines, or droplines afloat.

The first recorded use of glass floats was in Norway around 1844, and Japan began manufacturing them in the early 1900s, becoming a major producer due to its extensive deep-sea fishing industry.

Early floats were hand-blown, often using recycled glass (like sake bottles in Japan), which is why they frequently contain air bubbles and imperfections.

This float is a light colored blue with natural variations. 3.5” in diameter with Kanji mark shown on the bottom.