Tsuki Washi Paper Pendant Light

The most fundamental Tsuki decision. Ø 21.7" — the intimate register. Correct for breakfast nooks, primary bedrooms (over bedside or dressing area), reading corners, nurseries, powder rooms, and 4-6-seat dining tables. Works in standard 8-9-ft residential ceilings. Ø 34.6" — the statement register. Correct for 8-10-seat dining tables, kitchen islands, entryway foyers, and modern living rooms centred above seating clusters. Requires 9-ft-plus ceilings for the sphere to read as intended. If your specification is intimate ambient light in a small-to-medium room, choose the compact size. If your specification is sculptural centrepiece in a larger room, choose the statement size.

No. Akari is a specific brand of paper lanterns designed by the sculptor Isamu Noguchi beginning in 1951 — those pieces are officially licensed reissues manufactured under the Noguchi estate's authorization. The Tsuki is a Japanese-inspired washi-paper pendant of our own design; it uses the same washi-paper material tradition that Akari fixtures use, but it is not marketed as an Akari piece and is not authorized under the Noguchi estate. If you are seeking an authenticated Akari fixture specifically, we recommend consulting the estate's authorized retailers. If you are seeking a considered washi-paper pendant with Japanese-inspired calm register, the Tsuki serves that specification.

Standard hanging distances by application. Above dining tables: the fixture's lowest point should sit 30-36" above the tabletop for correct evening-service light quality. Above kitchen islands: 32-38" above the counter surface. In entryway foyers and open rooms: the fixture's lowest point should sit 6-7 ft above the floor (measured from the shade's bottom edge). The cord length is adjustable during installation via the ceiling canopy — the 59" standard cord provides substantial adjustment range. Extended cord lengths (up to 10 ft) are available on request at no extra charge for double-height entryway rotundas and higher-ceiling applications.

Yes — strongly recommended, particularly in dining rooms and bedrooms where evening-mode ambient light is the specification. The included E26/E27 LED bulb is non-dimmable warm-white. Replace with a dimmable E26/E27 LED (widely available at any lighting retailer) and install a triac-compatible wall dimmer. At 40-60% brightness, the washi paper catches light at its most atmospheric register — the fixture reads as gentle glowing moon rather than as bright fixture. For dining rooms, dimmable control is essentially required to enable proper evening-service light quality; the washi paper's diffused warm glow is particularly beautiful at lower brightness settings.

Stick with 2700K warm-white — the color temperature the fixture is calibrated to. The included LED is 2700K by default. Higher color temperatures (3000K, 4000K, 5000K) can be substituted physically but will read cooler and lose some of the washi paper's warm character — the paper's warm tan color reads best when paired with warm bulbs. Avoid 4000K "cool white" or higher (too white, clashes with the natural washi register). Edison-style filament bulbs (E26/E27) also work if you want to reinforce the vintage-Japanese lantern character, but confirm the bulb wattage stays at or below 40W.

Washi paper is more durable than it looks but should never be wet-cleaned. For dust: gently vacuum with a fabric-brush attachment on the lowest suction setting, or use a soft dry microfibre duster; every 3-6 months for residential dining and living rooms. For fingerprints or spot marks: gently blot (do not rub) with a dry soft brush; never use water, cleaners, or damp cloths — moisture will discolor the paper permanently. For tears or punctures: small damage can sometimes be repaired by a professional washi-paper conservator; contact us for referrals to conservators who work with Japanese paper fixtures. Long-term care: avoid installing directly beneath ceiling ducts that blow forced-air heating or cooling onto the paper, and keep the fixture out of direct sunlight to prevent gradual color fading.

No — indoor dry locations only. The Tsuki is rated IP20, which provides no protection against moisture. Washi paper is particularly vulnerable to humidity — moisture will cause the paper to warp, discolor, and eventually fail. Never install in bathrooms, above hot tubs, in covered outdoor patios, in enclosed pool areas, or in any location where humidity regularly exceeds normal residential interior levels. Correct locations: dining rooms, kitchens (away from stovetop steam), living rooms, bedrooms, foyers, and indoor reading corners with normal residential humidity levels.

Moderate. Unlike our plug-in floor lamps, the Tsuki is a hardwired ceiling-mount fixture — it connects to your ceiling's electrical junction rather than to a wall outlet. Professional installation by a licensed electrician is strongly recommended: 45-90 minutes typical, single electrician sufficient for both sizes. If your ceiling has an existing pendant light in the target location, replacement is straightforward. If you are converting a fixture-free ceiling location to pendant installation, additional electrical work is required (running wire from the electrical panel to the new junction box). The fixture ships with mounting hardware and detailed installation instructions; keep the washi paper shade in its packaging until final installation to avoid dust or handling marks during ceiling work.

Yes — the Tsuki is a specified fixture line for boutique-hotel Japandi-styled interiors, hospitality dining rooms specifying Japanese-inspired calm register, and residential design projects with multi-room washi-paper specification. Trade programs available; matched-batch paper coordination for multi-fixture installations (paper sheets pulled from the same production batch for visual consistency across multiple fixtures); extended cord lengths at no extra charge; project-management coordination for larger installations. Production lead times run 4-6 weeks; multi-fixture orders may extend proportionally depending on washi-paper import scheduling from Japan. Write to support@stuberlighting.com with your project brief — quantity, size mix (compact/statement), installation locations, and target timeline.