Today’s Trivia

Mitsugi Ohno’s work appeared in some of the world’s foremost institutions and buildings. He was praised by presidents and emperors.

But his friends say the world-renowned glassblower from Manhattan never lost his humility.

The Kansas State University scientific glassblower and instructor of chemistry, died in 1999.

Ohno became an apprentice glassblower in his uncle’s Takagi Glass Corp. in Tokyo at age 13. His job was to make tubes and containers used in scientific research. In March 1945, he lost his job and nearly his life when the factory was destroyed by a bomb.

Ohno then became a glassblower at the Japanese Naval Research Center, which was also destroyed by a bomb. After World War II, Ohno worked at Tokyo University before being recruited by K-State.

The university wanted a glassblower but couldn’t get one for the wages the state of Kansas wanted to pay, according to Cliff Malone, a close friend, neighbor and fellow K-State chemistry department retiree who was interviewed by The Eagle at the time of Ohno’s death.

It was 1961 and K-State couldn’t hire Ohno because of government immigration quotas. It took an act of Congress to bring the Ohno family to the United States. U.S. Sen. Frank Carlson drafted a special bill allowing the Japanese family to come.

Ohno spent the next 30 years developing his skills and reputation as a master glassblower.

He built ships and buildings - all from glass. His collection included a replica of the first Japanese trading ship to come to America after Commodore Perry’s 1853 expedition and the USS Missouri, on which the World War II peace treaty was signed. Ohno built models of the U.S. Capitol building and the White House and Dwight Eisenhower’s boyhood home in Abilene.

Question: What was notable about what Mitsugi Ohno’s did with his artwork?

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Beccy Tanner

Post your answer today at Kansas.com/Kansas150 for a chance to win this month’s prize.

Answer to Saturday’s question: Kinsley’s concrete Civil War monument was constructed by Kinsley artist David Lester. The monument was built at the turn of the 20th century to honor Civil War veterans. Lester was himself a Civil War veteran and commander of the local Grand Army of the Republic post.

Check back in this spot Monday for the answer to today’s question.

This story was originally published November 20, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Today’s Trivia."