SPECIAL

Yamaga Lantern: The Tradition and Marketing

2021.03.03

We visited the shop “Yamanote” in Yamaga City. This shop is run by Junya Nakamura, a lantern master who makes Yamaga lanterns, and his wife, Misato, who runs the shop. They are both from Yamaga city and these lanterns are used in Yamaga Lantern Festival.

To make the lantern master an “attractive work”

The Yamaga lantern festival is held every year from August 15th to 16th at the Omiya Shrine festival in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Mr.Junya Nakamura (right), a lantern master. Misato (left) who sells lanterns and special products of Yamaga

At the Yamaga lantern festival, a woman in a yukata dances with a gold lantern made of gold and silver Japanese paper on her head, following the melody of “Folk Song Yohehobushi“. This golden lantern and the lantern dedicated to Omiya Shrine are made from Japanese paper by a craftsman called a lantern master. Junya Nakamura is active as a lantern master. Junya is from Yamaga City. He experienced lantern making in the workplace experience class in junior high school. He was drawn into the charm of Yamaga lantern and decided to pursue his career as a lantern master. After graduating from a local high school, Junya went to a lantern master to ask him to become his apprentice. But Junya was told, “Work in society once and come back, it wouldn’t be too late”. Therefore, he got a job at the Yamaga Onsen Tourism Association in order to see the charm of local history and culture in a new light. A year later, at the recommendation of his friend who was already an apprentice, Junya was able to become an apprentice of Masahiro Tokunaga, who had been active as a lantern master for many years. At the age of 19, he began to take the first step as a lantern master.

Mark the washi paper. Draw a line based on the mark to create the structure. Since it is necessary to make many parts to make a three-dimensional object, skill and concentration are required.

Yamaga lanterns are “three-dimensional works made only from Japanese paper” without using frames such as wood and bamboo. The main work of the lantern master is to produce “dedication lanterns” such as shrine style lanterns and Zashiki (tatami mat) style lanterns that are dedicated to the shrine during the Yamaga lantern festival, and “golden lanterns” that are put on the head by the Sennin lantern dance. Sometimes more than 100 parts are beautifully bonded with liquid glue by hand, which unsurprisingly means many years of practice are necessary. It is said to take about 10 years to become a full-fledged lantern master. Junya also trained under Tokunaga for eight years, and in 2017 he began to be active as a lantern master.

Lantern2 — “Tou Rou” is made entirely of Japanese paper. Thanks to the lightness of Japanese paper crafts

Lantern3 — “Yamaga welt” is displayed on holidays such as New Year’s Day. The delicate decorations made using the traditional techniques of Yamaga lanterns are wonderful.

In addition to his traditional work as a lantern master, he has recently been actively developing new Yamaga lantern products. While exchanging ideas with various people such as fellow lantern masters and designer directors, he commercialized aroma diffusers that gently scents when dripping aroma oil, experience kits for workshops, and auspicious decorations. “The possibilities of making Yamaga lanterns using only Japanese paper are infinite. I personally feel the joy of making Japanese paper and combining it with the tradition of Yamaga lanterns. With free ideas, creating attractive products that are perfect for everyday use and gifts will lead to the spread of Yamaga lanterns, “says Junya.

And the person who has a significant role in spreading the charm of Yamaga lantern is his wife, Misato. “Craftsmen are good at making things, but they are not really good at selling things and spreading information well, so it is important to have someone who can manage them,” says Junya. From their shop “Yamanote”, Misato spreads the charm of Yamaga lanterns.

Yamanote — Inside the store. Not only Yamaga lanterns, but also Yamaga’s special products are available,

Misato is also from Yamaga City. Since she was working in regional promotion, she has a strong desire to convey the charm of Yamaga to many people. She said, “I wanted to make this shop a select shop that people would come to when looking for special souvenirs and gifts from Yamaga and Kumamoto“. Inside the store, which was renovated from an old folk house, you can find not only Yamaga lanterns, but also local specialties, handicrafts that give you the warmth of handicrafts, and original brand clothes. You can feel the culture of Yamaga just by looking at it.

The first floor is a select shop. The second floor is a lantern making workshop

“Even people in Kumamoto don’t know that Yamaga lanterns are made only of Japanese paper. Therefore, I would like local people and people in Kyushu to know the charm of Yamaga lanterns through this shop and various products. And at the Yamaka Lantern Festival, I want you to pay attention not only to the dance but also to each lantern, “says Misato with a smile. “Lantern masters tend to be seen as a unique profession. That is why if we should actively distribute and popularize Yamaga lanterns with attractive product development, our income will be more stable”, said Junya. “I hope lantern master will be recognized as a stable job and that more people will want to become lantern masters. As one of the young lantern masters, I will do my best to make this happen. ” Visit Yamaga and experience the tradition of Yamaga lanterns and the new values that is being created.