Japanese Shoji Lamps & Lighting

What are “Shoji lamps”?

Technically Shoji 障子 refer to the latticed paper doors that divide traditional Japanese homes. So the term “Shoji lamp” is a bit of misnomer, it is more accurate to say a “shoji-style lamp”, being a lamp that is in the style of a shoji paper door. Indeed, it would sound strange to a Japanese person to say a “shoji-lamp” in Japanese. It would be like saying a “door lamp”. These are called 行灯 “ando” or “andon” in Japanese (literally a going-light). For all intents and purposes though the term “Shoji lamp” has become the accepted term in English, so we will go with that here.

What are Shoji Lamps (Ando) made of?

Traditionally, these lamps were made of silk over wood, but later came to be made of Japanese Washi paper. Japanese doors and lamps are not made of “rice paper”. This is a common misconception but not based in fact. Washi is made from a variety of materials including Kozo (Mulberry), Mitsumata (Oriental Paperbush – possibly where the “rice paper” confusion comes from), ganpi or hemp.

Many listings you will see for lamps still list the materials as “rice paper”. These will actually be made from trees such as Tetrapanax papyrifer or mulberry. Hopefully, that clears up some of the confusion.