by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Last week a couple from Japan came to the National Depression Glass Museum in Wellington looking to open a similar museum in their home country.

Tak and Aya Oda were in Wellington on Thursday to look at the large collection of depression era glass on display at the national museum on 117 S. Washington that opened a year ago. The couple, who once lived in the United States for 10 years, hopes to open a museum on their large estate in Komoro City, Japan.

The Odas currently run Sun Hills Oda Restaurant which serves “American” food — things like meat casseroles, beef stews, etc. The Odas wanted their restaurant to be completely American much like a Japanese Restaurant looks Japanese here.

Now their hope is to build an “American” depression glass museum in an adjacent room and have a American type snack bar serving hot dogs and hamburgers. 

Avid glass collectors, the Odas came to Wellington as part of a week-long glass touring vacation across the U.S. They learned about the new museum in one of the many books they collected on the Depression Glass subject. Coincidentally, the Odas lived in Overland Park, Kansas in which Tak was president of Sokkia, an engineering firm for surveying products. They returned to Japan six years ago after Tak retired.

The idea for a museum evolved. At first when they retired they had no idea of starting a restaurant. But after a few months of boredom they decided to start a restaurant to give themselves something to do. They wanted a restaurant that would be American since they lived over here for about 25 years.

The couple, which had collected more than 300 pieces of Depression glass when living in the U.S. would serve these meals on these pieces.

Ada Oda said she has always been drawn to the color of depression glass and would buy a piece here and there while attending American antique shops.

It seemed like a natural fit when to serve their American meals using American glass. And they quickly realized their Japanese customers were in as much awe with the glass as they were.

The Odas noticed the curiosity with the glass was not by coincidence. And since they have so many glass pieces in storage, they thought why not open a museum and make their place more into a tourist destination?

The irony is the depression glass was originally made as a cheap alternative in the U.S. to other forms of fine china during a time when people had no money. Yet at the Sun Hills Oda Restaurant these pieces are considered THE fine china.

The Odas hope to open the new museum in April.