[Takahashi Kobo]Ukiyo-e illuminated by the gentle light of an Andon lantern

Takahashi Kobo is a member of the Edo Tokyo Kirari Project that has inherited the technique of Edo woodblock printing from the Ansei era (1854-1860), during which it was founded. In addition to producing a variety of woodblock prints ranging from traditional ukiyo-e woodblock prints to collaborations with artists and anime series,Takahashi Kobois also involved in the production of ukiyo-e reprints, interior products, and sundries.

Takahashi Kobo launched its new work “Andon/NIRAMI, Edo no Otokoshū”* on June 1st. Andon lanterns were popular during the Edo period, when these lighting fixtures were lit with candles and oil, but this product is made with a steel frame and powered by AA batteries. The four sides of the lantern feature the use of washi paper, a material that was used in the past to shield the wick from the wind, and on the paper are iconic designs selectively taken from the ukiyo-e prints of Sharaku and Hokusai in the hope that more people will become interested in woodblock printing and ukiyo-e. Some of these designs have been created by woodblock artists by harnessing a woodblock printing technique of applying multiple layers of colors over one another to bring the images to life.

The rainy season is here, and we hope that you can enjoy the gentle light of this Andon lantern and the skills of expert craftsmen.

*This work was created through product development carried out as part of the Tokyo Handicraft Project, an initiative aimed at promoting the appeal of traditional techniques and the handicraft of craftsmen.

---

“Andon/NIRAMI, Edo no Otokoshū”

Retail price: 49,500 yen
Materials: Steel, paper
Dimensions: 200mm (height)×84mm (width)×84mm (length)
Weight: 500g
Producer: Yukiko Takahashi, Takahashi Kobo Co., Ltd.
Business Partner: Tomoharu Matsuda, Good Idea Inc.

---

[Distributor: Nippon Department Store, Nihonbashi Main Store]

Address: Coredo Muromachi Terrace 1F, 3-2-1 Nihonbashi-muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0002
Phone: 03-6281-8997
Business hours: 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM

---

■Takahashi kobo　officialsite
https://takahashi-kobo.com/english/

■Instagram
takahashikobo

---

“Andon/NIRAMI”