The Story of Japanese Paper Floor Lamp “NIPPON”

In our modern world, many of us long to step away from the daily hustle and embrace moments of serene tranquility. To transform one's home into a personal "Sanctuary"—a haven of profound peace—is a deeply held aspiration. The atmosphere of this cherished space is significantly shaped by light. Illumination provides both functionality and deep warmth, possessing an intrinsic power to usher stillness into our hearts.

Among lighting options, the floor lamp is widely beloved for its ability to significantly transform a room's impression and cultivate a comforting atmosphere. It can serve as a captivating focal point or as a source of soft, indirect light that cradles us in tranquility, fulfilling diverse roles that seamlessly integrate into our way of life. In recent years, and among the world of paper lamps, those rooted in Japan's rich traditional techniques, yet fused with contemporary sensibilities, have captivated global attention. Alongside functionality, a growing number of people are finding value in the stories and the artisan's spirit imbued within each product. 

The Japanese Paper Floor Lamp "NIPPON" series we introduce today, as its name suggests, is a paper floor lamp that embodies Japanese aesthetics, craftsmanship, and cultural significance—precisely crafted to elevate your space into a "Sanctuary." The authentic handcraft imbued with the soul of Japan and the light filled with story create an experience unattainable with uniform mass-produced items, bringing a quiet, profound emotion to your everyday life.

The light cast by the "NIPPON" series is a condensation of the traditional techniques and aesthetic sensibilities cultivated throughout Japan's long history. These paper lamps are created using two great traditional arts from Gifu Prefecture: the intricate techniques of "Gifu Chochin" (Gifu lanterns) and the material essence of "Mino Washi," a paper with a venerable history of over 1300 years. Gifu Chochin are traditional craft items, designated as National Traditional Crafts in 1995, made by meticulously hand-pasting thin, durable Mino washi paper onto a frame of spirally wound thin bamboo strips. Isamu Noguchi's world-renowned "Akari" series was also created based on this Gifu Chochin technique.

What makes the "NIPPON" series worthy of its name—a symbol of Japan—also lies in the materials used. In particular, the "NIPPON" model combines bamboo, a traditional Japanese material, with Harusame-shi ("spring rain paper"), a type of Mino Washi with a delicate and beautiful watermark pattern. In Japan, bamboo has long been used in various tools and architecture, symbolizing flexibility, strength, and purity. Harusame-shi creates delicate patterns of light, like a gentle spring rain, giving the washi a poetic expression. By combining a traditional cylindrical Gifu lantern form with a bamboo frame and Harusame-shi paper, the NIPPON model embodies traditional Japanese aesthetics: a reverence for natural materials and a delicate sense of beauty, which are core tenets of wabi sabi arts .

The "NIPPON 02" model also uses Mino Washi but expresses Japanese aesthetics with a more contemporary approach. While founded on the traditional techniques of Gifu Chochin, this series creates a form of light worthy of the "NIPPON" name through its materials and form—a fusion of Japanese tradition and modernity.

Products like the "NIPPON" series, which bear a name symbolizing Japan and fuse specific traditional materials and techniques, are born from the deep passion and exceptional craftsmanship of the workshop that creates them. These exceptional pieces of Japanese decor are handcrafted by Hayashi Kogei, a workshop based in Gifu Prefecture that has been creating lighting with Mino Washi for over 75 years. Hayashi Kogei is an atelier that consistently handles the entire process from material selection to product creation, designing, manufacturing, and selling innovative and aesthetically refined lighting fixtures and interior products that naturally harmonize with contemporary spaces, using Mino Washi—a precious Japanese cultural heritage—as its primary material.

The artisans at Hayashi Kogei have spent years honing the fundamental properties of the 1300-year-old Mino Washi and the intricate lantern-making techniques for bamboo processing, handling special papers like Harusame-shi, and combining them. To accurately create forms tailored to each design, using bamboo and specific washi papers as in the "NIPPON" series, a profound understanding of the materials and unerringly precise handwork are essential. Hayashi Kogei, permitting no compromise in product quality, conducts every stage of production in-house—from papermaking and frame construction to washi application, assembly, and rigorous inspection. This comprehensive quality control system and the capability to manage everything from material to product are precisely why the "NIPPON" series can achieve the high quality and beauty befitting its symbolic name.

Hayashi Kogei is a true collective of creators, continually pursuing the potential of Japanese aesthetics and materials to create beautiful "products of light" that resonate with modern living, especially in wabi sabi interiors . The "NIPPON" series is the embodiment of their pride in Japanese craftsmanship.

The "NIPPON" series is composed of two models with different approaches, both fusing traditional Japanese aesthetics with contemporary design. In both models, the soft, warm light emitted from the washi paper shade brings a serene atmosphere to the space, making them ideal paper lamps for creating a calm environment.

With their gentle light and high design quality, the "NIPPON" series lamps are ideal for relaxing spaces such as Japandi living rooms and Japandi bedrooms. Bearing a name that symbolizes Japan, these lamps bring cultural significance and a quiet, sophisticated atmosphere simply by being placed in a room.

Placed in a corner, they add depth and warmth as a soft, indirect floor lamp for living room. Positioned beside a sofa or chair, they deliver a comfortable light for moments of relaxation. The combination of the bamboo frame and Harusame-shi paper in the NIPPON model, in particular, harmonizes perfectly with traditional Japanese rooms as well as with modern Japanese and Japandi style interiors, enhancing the overall completeness of the space. The delicate pattern of the Harusame-shi paper adds a refined accent to a Japandi style living room.

The more unique design of the NIPPON 02 allows it to blend naturally into contemporary spaces and minimalist interiors. Its unique polygonal form will become a subtle focal point in the room. In both models, the natural texture of Mino Washi brings warmth and visual comfort to the space, a key feature of Japandi interior design.

By incorporating the "NIPPON" series as ambient or accent lighting, you bring Japanese tradition, craftsmanship, and aesthetics into your daily life, transforming your space into a more serene and soul-satisfying "Sanctuary." The light from these lamps gently carries the quiet, profound beauty of Japan into your space.

To preserve the beautiful texture of these paper lamps for years to come, careful maintenance is essential. This is an act of respect for Japan's traditional materials, the artisan's handwork, and the culture embodied in the name "NIPPON."

The washi paper shade is delicate. If dust accumulates, gently brush it off with a soft brush or feather duster. Avoid rubbing forcefully or using a wet cloth, as this may damage or tear the washi paper. Be similarly careful with the delicate pattern of the Harusame-shi paper on the NIPPON model.

For the bamboo frame, wipe gently with a dry, soft cloth. Do not use chemical detergents or cleaners containing abrasives. As with washi paper, it is advisable to avoid using or storing the lamp in humid places or areas exposed to direct sunlight, as this can cause deterioration or discoloration of the materials.

With proper care, you can enjoy the beautiful light, design, and texture of the traditional materials of the "NIPPON" series for a long time.

Bearing a name that symbolizes Japan, the "NIPPON" series upholds the exceptional quality and beauty of a traditional craft while being designed for ease of use in various modern environments, allowing people worldwide to enjoy its light. This reflects Hayashi Kogei's strong desire to deliver the beautiful light created by Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship across borders.

The light source uses one E26 (US) or E27 (EU) base bulb (not included). To maximize the beauty of the washi shade, the use of an LED bulb with low heat emission is strongly recommended. The product is designed for indoor use only.

The Japanese Paper Floor Lamp "NIPPON" series is a paper lamp imbued with the 1300-year history of Mino Washi, the 300-year-plus tradition of Gifu Chochin techniques, materials symbolic of Japan, the craftsmanship of Hayashi Kogei, and a design that fuses Japanese tradition with contemporary beauty. The cultural significance embedded in the name "NIPPON," the unique design of each model, and the warm light filtered through washi paper will bring profound, serene tranquility and the refined atmosphere of Japanese aesthetics to your daily space.

The story of tradition told by the bamboo frame and Harusame-shi paper of the "NIPPON" model, and the evolution into modernity shown by the polygonal lines of the NIPPON 02. By welcoming these lamps, you incorporate Japan's rich traditional crafts into your life, adding an art-like presence and soul-satisfying light to your space. With its design symbolic of Japan and the special light created by washi paper, the "NIPPON" series of paper lamps will enrich your daily space, transforming it into a more soul-satisfying "Sanctuary." In an age of mass consumption, it is sure to become an irreplaceable presence for a discerning individual like you—someone who seeks true value, the story of materials, and beauty within your space.