OTO Chochin / Polka Dots

This is a hand-painted lantern that lights up the sound exclusively for smartphones.
The lights and sounds of the lanterns create a special moment by illuminating the screen of your smartphone while playing music or projecting a music video. All designs are freehand painted by craftsmen. Please enjoy the music and light performance at home.

Diameter : 11.8cm X 26cm
Weight : 240g

Japanese paper
Stainless steel
Fiberboard

LANTERN STUDIO NAMIDABASHI

"I continue to practice diligently every day, every year"

I still think my handwriting is terrible. However, at the end of each year I compare my handwriting with the beginning of the year and realize that my handwriting is getting better. I believe that small efforts every day will shorten the distance to the ideal, and I create lanterns every day so that it will reach the ideal one.

ARTISAN STORY

Kenichiro Murata / Namidabashi Lantern Studio
He is the fourth generation working in a workshop that has been making Edo hand-painted lanterns in Tokyo for generations since 1913. He entered the family business after various experiences including airplane design and patissier. The hand-drawn characters are unique, thick and chunky so that they can be easily seen from a distance. He can write English on lantern as well as Japanese Kanji characters!

EDO TEGAKI CHOCHIN / EDO HAND-PAINTED LANTERNS

About 400 years ago / 1600s / Edo Period (1603–1868)

The collapsible lantern form appeared by around the sixteenth century and became indispensable in Edo-period urban life for streets, shops, festivals and fire brigades. Edo hand-painted lanterns preserve the skill of painting family crests, shop names and bold lettering directly onto the paper surface.

In Japan, lanterns instantly evoke festivals and traditional restaurants, functioning almost like visual signage that communicates place and atmosphere. Contemporary makers still produce ceremonial pieces while also painting company logos, foreign names and popular characters.

The technical challenge is that the artist is not painting on a flat sheet. Letters are applied to an accordion-like surface that expands and contracts. The design must look correct only when the lantern is opened, and complex family crests are often painted freehand. It is a form of calligraphy designed for a moving surface.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.