Glassmaking is said to have started in ancient Mesopotamia. When people lit fires on the seashore, materials in the sand—such as mica, which can become glass—were accidentally melted into glass. Later, glassblowing was developed in ancient Syria, and glass vessels spread to many regions. By the Roman period, their shapes became more refined and decorative patterns were added. Today, such objects are found after being buried in the ground or sunk in the sea. Once, a dealer in Tokyo contacted me and asked if I would like to buy a piece of ancient glass. It was “Roman glass,” with a surface that had turned silvery, like those preserved in the “Shosoin” in Japan. I wanted it, but it was far too expensive, so I gave up. The price… about the cost of a car, I think.