His Story誠さんの物語
Glass, Surf, and a Life That Chose Miyako
Makoto is originally from Yokohama, Kanagawa. He first came to Miyakojima about 15 years ago on his honeymoon, and the island stayed with him: the sea, the slow air, the feeling that life could breathe a little wider here. Ten years ago, he made the move.
What he loves about Miyakojima is not only the ocean, although the ocean is very much part of the story. He talks about how easy it is to raise children here, and how everyone, from the island's ojii and obaa to small children, seems to warmly care for kids. He also loves that the sea is close enough to slip into his life before or after work, especially for surfing.
Guru Guru Glass has a name that already feels like motion. It is bright, a little funny, and easy to remember, which is exactly the kind of energy Makoto's work carries. He loved glass from childhood, but it was meeting glass artists during one short season of his life that changed everything. He saw another way to live, felt moved by it, and decided to build his own life through glass.
There were twists along the way, of course, but he has now spent 17 years living with glass. Inside the shop, the pieces do not feel distant or stiff. Some feel like reef water. Some look like tiny planets. Some become turtles, earrings, pendants, hair ties, and little creatures with personality. His goal is simple and charming: to keep making glass works that surprise people through beauty.
For travelers, Guru Guru Glass is a stop worth making because it offers something beyond a standard souvenir. For locals, it is one of those creative Miyakojima places that adds color to the island's everyday rhythm. For My Miyakojima, Makoto's work belongs in the Creative Spotlight because it reminds us that craft can be serious, joyful, and a little bit magical all at once.
