08/12/2026
These are Japanese Firefly Glass Beads (in Japanese, hotaru-dama or 火垂玉/蛍玉). These are exquisite, handmade glass "sculptures" (their word for them) made to adorn a kanzashi, a traditional hairpin used when wearing a kimono. We picked up a few of them in Kyoto, definitely take a look at them the next time you visit - they're absolutely stunning!