Experience the traditional techniques of drawing characters called Edo-Moji fonts on Chochin lanterns at Namidabashi Oshimaya Chochin Shop in Minami-Senju, and discover skills practiced since it opened 111 years ago
Edo Tegaki Chochin
Namidabashi Oshimaya Chochin Shop
Activity overview
This is an activity for crafting an Edo style hand-written Chochin lantern, in which you write Japanese characters on a mini Chochin lantern at Namidabashi Oshimaya Chochin Shop in Minami-Senju, Tokyo. This shop has accumulated the absolute best Chochin lantern crafting techniques in its 111 years of history since it opened. Enjoy writing Japanese characters possessing the same dynamic power seen at shrines, temples, and traditional performance art stages,and a special time experiencing the light of Chochin lanterns, which have been a part of daily life in Japan throughout its long history.
Activity features
・Experience the techniques of crafting Edo-Chochin lanterns accumulated over 111 years since the shop first opened.
・Write in your choice of Japanese characters in a dynamic and beautiful Edo-Moji font that makes you stand out.
・Craft your very own one-of-a-kind original mini Chochin lantern under instruction from Mr.Kenichiro Murata, the fourth generational shop owner.
Chochin lanterns illuminated the lives of people in Edo
Chochin lanterns came into Japan from China in the Muromachi era, and went on to be used as illumination devices that continued to brighten people's daily lives. At first, Kago-chochin lanterns woven from bamboo used to be the mainstream. Then Chochin lanterns continued being changed to their formats that fit with a way of living and adapt to the times. By the Edo era, they had supposedly changed to the foldable Chochin lanterns that are what Japanese people are familiar with today.
Namidabashi Oshimaya has a root in the Asakusa area. The head family Oshimaya had made a name for itself from the Edo era onward, and they allowed Namidabashi Oshimaya founder Mr.Yoshizo Murata to use the name of Oshimaya. The shop that he set up in the Namidabashi area in Minami-Senju was the beginnings of Namidabashi Oshimaya. The head family was unfortunately burned down by air-raid during the Pacific War. However, the 10 shops that were allowed to carry on the name of Oshimaya have each continued to pass down their own traditions.
Mr.Shuichi Murata, the third generational head, received both the Tokyo Meister Award, and Arakawaku Registered Intangible Cultural Heritage Holder Certification. Mr.Kenichiro Murata, the fourth generational head and a son of Shuichi, the team of two still brush up their skills at the current Namidabashi Oshimaya. In addition to traditional Chochin lantern crafting, this father and son try to continue innovating new kinds of Chochin lanterns that can blend into modern lifestyles.
Experience hand writing on a Chochin lantern with the traditional font Kago-Moji
This activity offer writing in an Edo-Moji font on a mini Chochin lantern approx. 25cm(9.8 inches) tall. For the Chochin lantern shape, choose between two styles: an oval and egg-shaped type, or a cylinder type. Just imagine the Chochin lantern shape decorating your own abode, and select the one that most blends in with your own personal lifestyle.
The process starts with you tracing in Sumi ink pigment over a sketch of Japanese characters drawn in by an artisan on your Chochin lantern. The characters used in the Edo hand-written Chochin lantern tradition passed down at Namidabashi Oshimaya are of the Kago-Moji type, a font that possesses a thickness and sense of power that is particularly strong among all of the Edo-Moji fonts. This powerful font, visible at a glance even from a distance, may make you feel the chic and the stylishness of Edo.
You would be so thrilled with crafting characters energetically on your Chochin lantern.
First of all, take a brush and trace over the light sketch that has already been drawn on by Mr. Kenichiro Murata, the fourth generational shop owner, then emphasize the outline of the characters.Tracing a line with one hand supporting the Chochin lantern is a bit harder than expected. Remember, do not focus too much or forget to breathe, just relax!
After finishing tracing with Sumi ink pigment, your Chochin lantern will now have actual characters with outline in white. Imagine your Chochin lantern with characters visually popping out from their vivid coloring, choose the color you like, and paint the inside of the outline. Pick up your favorite one out of 10 colors. As you paint in characters using the color that goes with your mood at the moment, your feelings will naturally start to bubble up into excitement.
The gentle illumination reminds you of the time spent in Tokyo whenever you see it.
After coloring in the pigment into every nook and cranny and then letting it dry, when you fold it up into a small shape and thus give it its distinctive pleats, your Edo hand-written Chochin lantern is completed. Then, after turning on the LED light inside, gently lit yet powerfully designed characters will light up. As a souvenir, enjoy a red Chochin lantern with the word Tokyo written by an artisan. And when you eventually decorate your place with these two Chochin lanterns, hope you remember the time you spent in Tokyo.
Namidabashi Oshimaya Chochin Shop2-29-6 Minami-Senju, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo
The shop first opened in 1913 in Minami-Senju after receiving the right to use the name of Oshimaya, which was located in Asakusa. , Mr.Shuichi Murata, the third generational head, Mr.Kenichiro Murata and the fourth generational head, the team of father and his son continue to protect its traditional techniques. Many fans love their Edo hand-written Chochin lanterns, which dynamically employ the Edo-Moji font called Kago-Moji that is used in shrines and temples votive senjafuda slips. These lanterns are often used as votive offerings to shrines and temples and as theatrical stage props. Recently, Namidabashi Oshimaya Chochin Shop is also striving to popularize Chochin lanterns within modern culture, with examples like the OTO-CHOCHIN, a modern style Chochin lantern that is enjoyable music and sounds in combination with smartphones.
