Asano – Japanese paper lamps in washi from Gifu

Asano is a Japanese family workshop in Gifu, where paper lanterns have been folded and assembled by hand for over a hundred years. What began as traditional chōchin lanterns is today a house of timeless design icons in washi paper – created in collaboration with some of Japan’s most distinctive designers. Studio Hafnia is the official Asano dealer in Denmark.

The designers behind Asano

Asano’s lamps carry the signature of several generations of Japanese design:

• Shigeru Uchida (1943–2016) – one of Japan’s most influential designers, behind the sculptural Paper Moon and Nature series in washi, bamboo and steel.
• Daisaku Chou – designer of the portable Andon Triangle, translating the classic Japanese andon lantern into a soft, triangular silhouette.

Materials and craft

• Washi paper – handmade Japanese paper that diffuses light into a warm, gentle glow.
• Bamboo and Japanese cypress – natural strength, lightness and a calm, organic texture.
• Steel – stability and lasting durability.

Each lamp is handmade by skilled Japanese craftspeople using traditional techniques – a meeting of cultural heritage, material sensibility and modern design.

Minimalism and aesthetics

Asano’s lamps express Japanese minimalism, where simplicity, calm and harmony take centre stage. The light is soft and muted, and the lamp works both as functional lighting and a poetic design object – perfect as a Japanese table lamp in the living room, by the bed, in the hallway or on the desk.

Exclusive at Studio Hafnia

At Studio Hafnia you’ll find the Asano collection in Denmark. Bring a piece of Japanese design history into your home – handmade paper lamps in washi, built to last.

Explore our full range of design lamps in paper, Murano and vintage – including vintage Murano lamps in mouth-blown glass.