What is Andón – How to make a traditional Japanese lantern

He andon It is a lantern made of Japanese paper and framed with bamboo or wood that is lit with oil or a candle. It is believed to have been originally used by Buddhist monks during the Muromachi period (1392-1573) as portable lighting. In the Edo period (1600-1867), the andon was especially popular with merchants to display lanterns with the names of their shops written on the paper cover. Even with modern andon that uses light bulbs, the soft light filtering through the paper gives off an ethereal beauty. Some traditional shops and restaurants still use andons outside to attract customers. Indoors, modern andons are popular as a trendy interior decoration in both Japanese and Western rooms.

miyako andon It is a small family business that has been in business for four generations. Located in the back streets of Higashi Nippori, Tokyo, the building is new and surprisingly contemporary in design. A small garden separates the workshop area from the exhibition hall. Takayuki Kizaki, who runs the workshops, is the fourth generation owner of Miyako Andon. He handles business in a casual but professional style. Kizaki explains that he holds workshops for the public to increase general knowledge and appreciation of the art of Japanese-style lighting. The small space accommodates up to five participants at a time. This warmth leads to camaraderie and the experience of creating together is truly pleasurable.

Choosing the paper for your lantern is without a doubt the most fun and time consuming part of the workshop. Miyako Andon offers a variety of patterned and colored papers to choose from. Some are exquisite works by the famous washi . artisanal, but personal preference usually takes precedence over brands. There is a lantern that you can hold your paper against to see how it would look when lit because the lantern will look very different. Colorful paper lanterns usually look nice when not lit, but they don’t let in enough light. Since all papers are so interesting, there is a strong temptation to make a patchwork lantern using a different piece of washi for each side. Kizaki subtly encourages people to keep their creations simple. I fell in love with the lattice design right away and decided to have two sides and the top with lace and two plain sides. The job of gluing the paper to the wood is not particularly difficult.

How to make a modern andon (Japanese lantern)

The first thing you need to do in the workshop is to select the Japanese washi paper and decide on a design for your lantern.

Next, start gluing the paper to the narrow edges on each side of the frame of the wooden skeleton lantern. The lantern frame is pre-made from a kit and includes a bulb.

The “glue” consists of two parts, special washi glue used for gluing shoji , traditional Japanese sliding doors, and regular white glue. The brush is small, but it is important to put a lot of glue because the places without glue will bulge when they dry. The trick is to put more glue than you need, then clean the ledge with the wipe they give you.

Miyako Andon has a special handmade wood tool to remove excess glue as she presses the paper onto the wood. The task is not difficult although it requires concentration. Using lace patterned paper requires it to be reinforced first with a regular paper so that side is covered twice.

Visitors are encouraged to go to the adjacent showroom while the glue dries. The showroom highlights the professional work of Miyako Andon. Some lanterns show fine workmanship with twisted pieces of the wooden frame. Others highlight the painstaking and detailed craftsmanship. Some designs are objects of fine art. Back at the workshop, a lighting ceremony takes place. All the external lights are off and the room glows with the soft light of the platform.

For information on how to attend a workshop, contact Miyako Andon to find out when they are held. Private workshops conducted in English can also be scheduled. Workshops last approximately one hour and cost 5,000 yen. Both seniors and children are welcome.

Miyako Andon’s Story:

Miyako Andon’s story is a perfect representation of how a traditional craft has been adapted to modern sensibilities without sacrificing the “heart of the craft”. In the early Meiji period (1867-1912), based in Yokohama, Kichigoro Kizaki created a business using traditional Japanese wood lattice skills to create wooden frames. His successor, Kitaro Kizaki, moved the operation to Tokyo, where there were a host of other traditional workshops, making it easier to coordinate parts and work together. Miyako Andon began concentrating on Japanese lighting manufacturing. While demand was weak during the war, Kizaki’s supply of timber survived the bombing raids and in the postwar building boom, business prospered. When the third generation of Koichiro Kizaki took over the company in 1955, he renamed it Miyako Andon. The contemporary name reflected Koichiro’s desire to create lighting to suit new homes in post-war Japan. Many department stores approved of this new style of Japanese lights, and their products became popular.