The delicate art of Japanese lantern-making, in which the ladies opposite are engaged, owes its worldwide popularity to Emperor Hirohito's grandfather. In 1878, the artisan city of Gifu presented Emperor Meiji with a particularly beautiful lantern; he was so deeply moved that he resolved to encourage the trade, and by the turn of the century lanterns had become one of Japan's most famed exports.
The lanterns that shone in the dim dawn of Japanese history were globefish—gutted, puffed, dried, and filled with live fireflies. The lanterns that pleased Hirohito's grandfather, and have been a delight ever since, are more complex. They are...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
