The Story of Japanese Paper Floor Lamp “Chochin Lamp”

In our busy modern lives, many yearn to escape the daily hustle and create moments of inner peace. Transforming one's home into a personal "Sanctuary" is a widely shared aspiration. The ambiance of this cherished space is profoundly influenced by light. Lighting does more than merely illuminate; it imbues a room with warmth and depth, possessing the power to bring tranquility to our hearts.

Among lighting options, floor lamps, particularly a paper floor lamp or a Japanese floor lamp, are widely favored for their ability to significantly alter a room's impression and foster a comfortable atmosphere, thanks to their presence and ease of use. They can serve as a focal point or provide soothing, soft indirect lighting, playing diverse roles that complement our lifestyles, fitting perfectly into Japandi interior design. In recent years, lighting fixtures rooted in Japan's rich traditional techniques, yet fused with contemporary sensibilities, have garnered global attention. This is because an increasing number of people are finding value not just in functionality, but in the stories and the spirit of the artisans embedded within the products.

The Japanese paper lamp "Chochin Lamp" series we introduce today is crafted by Asano Shoten, a venerable establishment with over a century of history, holding a special prominence in the legacy of Japanese lanterns making. These paper lamps utilize the finest Mino washi paper. This series, merging the steadfast tradition of Gifu lanterns with innovative, modern functionality (battery-operated and cordless), will bring profound serenity and a light that seems to speak to your soul into your everyday spaces, enhancing any Japanese decor. A clear distinction from uniform, mass-produced items, this authentic handiwork, a piece of Japanese homeware reflecting wabi sabi arts, and the light imbued with a unique story will enrich your daily life, making it something truly special.

The uniquely warm, yet refined, light cast by the Japanese Paper Floor Lamp "Chochin Lamp" series is born from two quintessential Japanese traditional arts: the intricate techniques of "Gifu Chochin" (Gifu lanterns), passed down through generations in Gifu Prefecture, and the material essence of "Mino Washi" paper, with its history spanning over 1300 years. Crucially, it is also a product of Asano Shoten's unwavering commitment to using only the "finest Mino washi paper."

Gifu Chochin, a type of Japanese lantern, 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. Asano Shoten is a long-established Shop in the Japanese lantern industry, having upheld this Gifu Chochin tradition, which dates back to the Edo period, for over a century. The washi paper shades of the

"Chochin Lamp" series, making them exquisite paper lamps, are painstakingly handcrafted using this Gifu Chochin technique, featuring "the finest Mino washi paper" carefully selected by Asano Shoten. 

While Mino washi is known for being extremely thin yet surprisingly durable, with a uniquely beautiful texture, this particular paper excels in material selection, Suki (paper-making) technique, and the beauty of its finish. This highest-grade Mino washi further enhances the beauty of light filtered through it, bestowing a warm and impeccably pure glow upon the entire space, ideal for wabi sabi interiors. It is a testament to the pride of a lantern workshop with over a century of history, refusing any compromise on material quality.

Products like the "Chochin Lamp" series, where a venerable Japanese workshop elevates traditional techniques and material dedication into contemporary items, cannot be fully appreciated without understanding the history and philosophy of their creators. These lamps are manufactured by Asano Shoten, a long-established workshop founded in Gifu Prefecture in 1917, boasting a legacy of over one hundred years. 

From its inception to the present day, Asano Shoten has continued to produce lanterns, carrying on the Gifu Chochin tradition. While cherishing the traditional lantern-making techniques cultivated over many years, Asano Shoten also actively engages in developing new products tailored to modern lifestyles. They are committed to sourcing many materials essential for Gifu Chochin production locally, and are particularly selective about the Mino washi they use, choosing only the highest quality. From crafting the lantern frames to selecting and hand-pasting the finest Mino washi paper, and finally to assembly, the artisans' proven skills and deep respect for materials, honed through years of experience, resonate in every step of the process, reflecting true wabi sabi design. 

The "Chochin Lamp" series can be described as the culmination of Asano Shoten's artisans' skill and passion, where tradition and innovation harmoniously converge. Building on their centennial expertise in lantern-making and their dedication to using the finest Mino washi, they have fused modern designs that complement contemporary spaces, including those favoring Japandi style or seeking unique Japanese home accessories, with new functionalities like battery-powered cordless operation. Knowing the story of Asano Shoten reveals that the light brought into your space by the "Chochin Lamp" series is not mere illumination, but a light of pride, dedication, and tradition, kindled by a Japanese workshop with over a century of history. This is the "authentic" value absent in mass-produced goods, making ownership itself a meaningful experience, perfect for those appreciating Japanese design interior.

A hallmark of the "Chochin Lamp" series is its design, which reinterprets the traditional Japanese paper lanterns form through a contemporary lens, reflecting Asano Shoten's perspective honed over a century. The shades are luxuriously crafted from "the finest Mino washi paper" handpicked by Asano Shoten, its quality maximizing the beauty of the light. 

A unique aspect of this series is its remarkably compact size for a paper lantern floor lamp, standing at approximately 19.6 inches (50cm) tall. Unlike conventional large floor lamps, this allows for versatile placement – directly on the floor, on shelves, low furniture, or beside a bed in a Japanese bedroom. Furthermore, its battery-powered, cordless specification eliminates cable constraints, achieving a clean design and the freedom to place it anywhere. Its lightweight nature further enhances this portability. The series features three models, allowing you to enjoy this modern chochin design in different forms:

Thanks to its compact size and battery-powered cordless design, the "Chochin Lamp" paper lantern lamp series offers unparalleled convenience, allowing for easy placement in various spaces. This enables a freedom in light arrangement that was difficult with conventional corded floor lamps. It can be placed directly on the floor in Japanese living rooms or Japandi living rooms, as well as on elevated surfaces like shelves, low furniture, or nightstands in Japandi bedrooms, without worrying about cords. 

The absence of a cord is a significant advantage, allowing you to enjoy its light anywhere in a room, or even temporarily carry it to another. For instance, use it next to a sofa in a Japanese living room or Japandi style living room as a reading or indirect light, near a dining table to enhance the mealtime atmosphere, or in an entryway to gently welcome guests. A perfect addition to a wabi sabi living room. 

The soft, warm light filtered through "the finest Mino washi paper" selected by Asano Shoten brings a calm, serene ambiance to the entire space, creating moments of relaxation. The sheer quality of the material directly influences the beauty of the light. The minimalist design naturally complements a wide range of interior styles, including contemporary, mid-century modern, Scandinavian, and the popular Japandi style, making it excellent Japandi decor and a key element in Japandi interior design. It also fits beautifully within wabi sabi interiors. It is ideal as ambient lighting, adding a pleasant brightness to your space. Being lightweight and easy to assemble, it is also convenient to handle during moves or redecorating. You can freely place the light of this centennial lantern workshop wherever you desire.

To maintain the beauty and texture of this paper lantern floor lamp's Mino washi shade and materials for a long time, careful handling is necessary. 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. While the finest Mino washi is of high quality, it is still paper and must be treated gently, preserving its role in your Japanese home decor. Washi paper can deteriorate or discolor due to ultraviolet rays. 

To prevent fading or damage to the shade, it is advisable to avoid placing the lamp in areas exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods, such as near windows. The lantern structure is relatively delicate, so please avoid applying strong force or bumping it. With proper care, you can enjoy the beautiful light and design of the "Chochin Lamp" series for many years, a cherished piece of Japanese decor. 

As the product is a battery-powered cordless type, be careful to avoid water exposure, especially ensuring the battery compartment remains dry. While the battery is likely replaceable (type unspecified), it is recommended to remove it during long periods of non-use to prevent leakage.

The "Chochin Lamp" series, a testament to Japanese design interior principles, is an art piece that fuses the centennial history of a Japanese lantern workshop, the traditions of Gifu Chochin and Mino washi, and a design that captures contemporary needs. Simultaneously, it is designed to be exceptionally user-friendly in various modern environments, allowing people worldwide to enjoy its light. This stems from Asano Shoten's strong desire to reinterpret their lantern-making tradition, cultivated over more than a century, and their commitment to using the finest Mino washi, making it accessible to global lifestyles. 

One of the series' attractions is its high versatility regarding power. It is a battery-powered cordless design. This means you don't need to worry about your country's voltage or outlet shape at all. You can freely set it up and use it anywhere in the world without cord constraints. The fact that each product is meticulously handmade and easy to assemble is another welcome point for overseas customers. You can illuminate your space with this special light from a centennial lantern workshop almost immediately after unboxing. The product is designed as an indoor lighting fixture.

The Japanese Paper Floor Lamp "Chochin Lamp" series, essentially a modern paper lantern lamp, is a collection of floor lamps reinterpreted for modern lifestyles by Asano Shoten, a workshop with over a century of history, drawing on the Japanese traditional techniques of Gifu Chochin and Mino washi. The soft, warm light filtered through the finest Mino washi paper, meticulously selected by Asano Shoten, combined with a compact and lightweight design (50cm height) and battery-powered cordless specification, brings serene comfort and effortless convenience to your daily life. With three distinct modern designs – 01, 02, and 03 – this cordless series allows you to freely illuminate any desired spot with the gentle glow of a chochin, be it your Japandi style living room, your serene bedroom embodying wabi sabi interior designs, a windowsill, or a shelf. We invite you to welcome the "Chochin Lamp" series into your life.