Category: Wiki

Religious/Spiritual Purposes:Paper lanterns may be used in Buddhist temples and festivals to illuminate sacred spaces and honor divine entities.

Festivals and Events:In many Japanese festivals and events, paper lanterns are used to light the streets and enhance the festive ambiance.

Decorative Purposes:Paper lanterns are used for decoration in homes, restaurants, izakayas (Japanese pubs), and gardens. Particularly, red lanterns are widely recognized as a mark of izakayas.

Expression of Traditional Art:The crafting of paper lanterns is respected as a traditional art in Japan, with intricate designs or paintings sometimes being featured on them.

Regarding “chochin” Japan paper lantern, famous producing area are Gifu and Yame.
The chochins made in only those two city are registered as Traditional Crafts of Japan by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The 3 characteristics of Yame chochin are based on traditional craft approval.
1.Single sipral wire frameworks method, called “Ichijo rasen shiki”
2.Rapid drawing, called “Hayagaki”
3.Using bamboo wire

Please refer more information to the below web site.
kougeijapan
kougeihin.jp
Fukuoka pref. informing web site

1.Single spiral wire framework method, called “Ichijo rasen shiki” (一条らせん式）
Before 1850 Edo era, craftsmen make one ring by one wire and threads combinate a ring and other rings. This method is called “Ippongake”(一本掛け)
After that, the single spiral wire frameworks method which was originated by a craftsman in Yame.
This method got to make production easy and production ability increase , and became popular all over Japan in Edo era.
Now a day almost Japanese chochin are made by this method originated in Yame.
It is not too much to say that Yame is contemporary chochin birth place.

How to make the chochin wire framework, please watch Youtube which we uploaded.