Paper Moon 5 Washi Paper Lamp by Asano

Paper Moon 5 Washi Paper Lamp by Asano — a round of washi paper and bamboo by Shigeru Uchida, made by hand in Gifu.

Designed by Shigeru Uchida, made by hand in Gifu, Japan.

The Design Story

In Gifu, lantern-making has been a craft since the Edo period, fed by the clear Nagara River, the forests of Mount Kinka and the paper mills of nearby Mino. Asano Shoten opened there in 1917 and has stayed with the chochin ever since: bamboo ribs wound by hand, washi pasted on sheet by sheet, edges cut with a razor. Since 1999 its lantern forms have been drawn in CAD and laser-cut, so a century-old technique can carry modern shapes. Nearly every material, from the paper to the parts, comes from Gifu Prefecture. Paper Moon came from that craft meeting Shigeru Uchida (1943–2016), the Japanese designer of interiors, furniture and cities, who drew five lantern shapes for Asano in 1990.

Why You’ll Love It

Paper Moon 5 turns a bulb into something closer to moonlight. Uchida gave each of the five shapes its own character, and this one is a full, almost spherical globe. Off, it is a quiet paper sculpture; on, the washi glows and the bamboo spiral draws fine lines across it. Because each one is made by hand in Gifu, small variations in the paper are part of its charm.

Made for Real Life

It arrives flat in a gift box and opens out in moments. Set it on a dry surface, add a small warm bulb, and it needs only dusting. Its siblings include Paper Moon 1 Washi Paper Lamp by Asano and Paper Moon 2 Washi Paper Lamp by Asano. Lamp off, then a soft dry cloth over the paper. Water and washi don’t mix, so skip sprays and damp rooms.

Product Details

Where It Shines

On living-room floors, big side tables and entries; grouped with other Paper Moon shapes it becomes a small landscape of light.

Questions We Hear Most

Who designed Paper Moon 5, and when?

Shigeru Uchida, in 1990, as one of a family of five washi lantern shapes made by Asano in Gifu.

How is the Paper Moon 5 shade made?

Washi paper is laid over a continuous spiral of bamboo filament, which a wire armature holds open on a steel base.

What are Paper Moon 5’s measurements in centimetres?

28.6 cm high and 30.5 cm across, with a 191 cm cable.

Which light bulb should I use in Paper Moon 5?

An E17 bulb up to 25 W; we like a warm-white LED, which stays cool against the paper.

How should I group Paper Moon 5 with the other shapes? (our styling advice)

Pair it with Paper Moon 1 or Paper Moon 2 at a different height, so the silhouettes read as one composition.

Where does Paper Moon 5 feel most at home? (our styling advice)

On living-room floors, big side tables and entries, in calm Japanese, Japandi or minimalist rooms; keep it out of damp spaces.

For the Trade

Specifying soft lighting for a client’s home, a spa, a ryokan-style hotel or a restaurant? Members of the LoftModern Trade Program (interior designers, architects, contractors, builders, home stagers and commercial buyers) receive trade pricing, up to 20% off retail on eligible brands, plus round-the-clock concierge support for stock checks and lead times. Apply once with your business details; we reply by email with your account.

Why We Love It

Thirty-odd years on, still the gentlest light in the room.

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