Custom Lantern

Make your bespoke chochin lanterns, handcrafted by Kyo-Chochin Minori - the same family business with whom we collaborated to make the Chochin Lantern Kit.

Choose the size and shape of the chochin, as well as the design, and we’ll take care of the rest with Kyo-Chochin Minori. 

Custom lanterns take approximately 1-1.5 months to ship.

How to submit a graphic file for your custom lantern: 

In order to precisely depict your design on the custom lantern, please submit an illustrator (ai) file outlining each graphic or font; please also convert the illustrator file to Version CS2. 

If Kyo-Chochin Minori does not have a certain color in your graphic, the main illustrator of the workshop will be reproducing the color. 

JIBARI VS MAKIBONE

Kyo-Chochin Minori makes lanterns using a jibari method, which is unique to Kyoto and of the highest grade, requiring skill, high-quality bamboo, and washi paper. They also offer lanterns made with a method called makibone. The exterior looks very similar to one made with jibari, but uses one thin strip of bamboo that spirals down the interior of the chochin.

A BRIEF HISTORY

For over 160 years, the Yanase family has been supplying the people of Kyoto with light. At that time, chochin stores were like electronic stores and could be found in each neighborhood. Today, they are one of only a handful left in Kyoto.

With the decrease in demand for this kind of lanterns, they hope to create more avenues in supplying chochin besides to shrines, temples, and restaurants, and do more decor lighting. This offering is one way of us trying to connect what they hope to do and your interest in Japanese paper lanterns.