Shami Lantern — Striped Ebony

The Shami Lantern is a portable light born from the skin-stretching technique of shamisen craftsmen. Raw animal hide becomes supple when wet and rigid when dry — by stretching it over a wooden form, the shade takes shape. The natural wrinkles, finished by hand one by one, give each lantern a gentle, unique expression in the light.

Brightness is controlled using an actual shamisen tuning peg. Turn the knob to hear a satisfying click as it lights up, then continue turning to adjust to your preferred brightness. The peg doubles as a handle, so you can carry it wherever you like.

Raw hide that could not be used for shamisen finds a new purpose — letting light pass through. From sound to light, a traditional craft technique takes on a new form.

• Approx. 300g — light enough to carry in one hand
• USB Type-C charging, up to approx. 12 hours of continuous use
• Color temperature 2,000–3,000K (varies slightly with each hide)
• Replaceable rechargeable battery (NiMH AA)
• 6-month domestic warranty