Kasa Washi Paper Pendant Light

No. The Kasa Pendant Light is an independent original design drawing on the broader traditional Japanese washi paper lantern and kasa pilgrim-hat vernacular. It is not part of the Isamu Noguchi Akari Series (Akari fixtures are round or cylindrical, produced under exclusive license by Ozeki & Co. in Gifu, Japan) nor is it a reissue of any specific historical designer piece. It is our interpretation of the pyramid-cone paper-lantern typology, updated with modern manufacturing techniques and available in four sizes suited to contemporary interior scale. For authenticated Noguchi Akari fixtures, we recommend consulting the Noguchi Museum's authorised retailers or ozeki-lantern.co.jp directly.

Small (13.8") — single pendant over a compact kitchen island, small dining table (2-4 seats), or entryway console; also correct for reading nooks and bedside suspension. Standard 8-9 ft ceilings. Medium (15.7") — trio over longer kitchen islands (30-36" apart), single over medium round dining tables, or over-bed suspension in Japandi master bedrooms. Large (19.7") — single over standard 4-6 seat dining tables, tea room centers, generous foyers with 9-11 ft ceilings. The most versatile mid-size choice. Extra Large (47.2") — grand statement fixture for double-height ceilings (12+ ft), oversized dining rooms, boutique hotel lobbies, and atrium spaces. Not appropriate for standard 8-9 ft ceilings — the scale will overwhelm.

The Extra Large 47.2" version omits the bottom diffuser plate for two reasons. First: at oversized scale hung in double-height rooms (typical XL installation), viewing angles are much further from the bulb source — diffuser plate is no longer needed to soften direct-source glare from typical seated viewing distances. Second: the pure pyramid silhouette without bottom diffuser reads as considered architectural sculpture at that scale — the fixture becomes a formal geometric statement, not just a functional light source. If you want an XL with bottom diffuser for a particular installation, contact support@stuberlighting.com to request a custom-made variant; production lead times will be 6-8 weeks.

No — indoor dry locations only. The Kasa is IP20-rated and made of paper. It should not be installed over kitchen cooking surfaces (steam, grease, and heat will damage the washi paper permanently), in bathrooms with shower or bath humidity, powder rooms with significant humidity, or any location exposed to sustained moisture. Correct installations: over kitchen islands (away from the cooking zone), over dining tables, in living rooms, bedrooms, entryway foyers, hallways, and boutique-hospitality dry-location dining and reception areas.

Bulb sold separately. The fixture accepts standard E26 (US) or E27 (EU/UK/AU) socket bulbs up to 40W maximum. We recommend warm-white LED bulbs (2700K-3000K) for correct washi paper glow character — the warm bulb temperature reads warmest through the natural paper fibres. For dimming, choose a dimmable warm-white LED + triac-compatible wall dimmer. For vintage character, an E26 filament Edison bulb (LED equivalent recommended over incandescent for safety) provides amber warm tones. Bulbs are widely available at Home Depot, IKEA, Amazon, and any lighting retailer. Avoid incandescent Edison filament bulbs over 25W in the Small and Medium sizes — heat concentration in the enclosed shade can prematurely age the paper.

Yes with the correct combination. Install a dimmable warm-white LED bulb in the E26/E27 socket, wire the fixture to a triac-compatible wall dimmer (Lutron Diva and Caseta triac dimmers are known LED-compatible). At 40-60% brightness the washi paper glow reads at its most atmospheric register — particularly effective for evening dining and pre-sleep bedroom ambient. Note the fixture itself does not include a built-in dimmer; dimming happens at the wall switch after installation.

Yes — we offer a plug-in cord adapter accessory that converts the Kasa from hardwired to plug-in mode. The plug-in cord is a 5m (196") black fabric-covered cord with an inline switch and standard region plug, designed to hang from a ceiling hook and plug into any wall outlet. Ideal for renters, spaces without J-boxes, and temporary installations. Contact support@stuberlighting.com before ordering (or leave a note at checkout) to request the plug-in adapter — we'll swap the standard hardwired kit for the plug-in components at no additional charge. Standard region plugs available: US, UK, AU, EU.

Gentle dusting only. Once every 2-3 months, use a soft dry brush (natural bristle or feather duster) or a very soft dry microfibre cloth to remove settled dust from the paper surface. Never spray liquids, cleaning solvents, or ammonia glass cleaners on washi paper (moisture will warp the fibres and stain permanently). Never machine-vacuum the paper (suction can tear the material). For small spot marks, gentle dabbing with a barely-damp cotton pad may lift the mark — test in an inconspicuous area first. For deep cleaning or damage repair, contact us for guidance — washi paper is a specialty material and improper cleaning attempts can cause irreversible damage.

Yes — the Kasa is a specified fixture for boutique-hotel lobby atriums (Extra Large), restaurant dining rooms, Japanese-cuisine restaurants and tea houses, hospitality reception spaces, and multi-unit residential projects where the Japanese-heritage register reads as considered upscale interior specification. Multi-size mixed installations produce coordinated Kasa-family signature across differently-scaled spaces. Trade programs available; matched-batch coordination for multi-fixture installations; custom canopy sizes and wire lengths on request at no additional charge; project management for larger orders; bulk pricing for orders of 20+ units (mix and match across sizes). Production lead times run 4-6 weeks for standard sizes; 6-8 weeks for XL and custom variants. Write to support@stuberlighting.com with your project brief.