Asano Shoten
This long-standing lantern manufacturer was established in 1917 in Gifu Prefecture. The company engages in experimentation, such as finding ways to meld lanterns, a type of traditional Japanese craftwork, into modern lifestyles by actively incorporating new materials and technologies, while at the same time preserving traditional techniques.
Shigeru Uchida [1943- ]
Born in Yokohama in 1943. As a leading Japanese designer, Uchida has engaged in diverse design projects worldwide from architectural interior, furniture and industrial design to urban planning. His major works are series of boutiques for Yohji Yamamoto, the Kobe Fashion Museum, the tea rooms ‘Ji-an, So-an, Gyo-an’. He has also been involved in the overall concept design for hotels including Hotel Il Palazzo, Oriental Hotel Hiroshima, The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon and Sapporo Grand Hotel. His works are held in permanent collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Denver Art Museum and others.