About us

We, Nami no Ue no Hotaru, make paper lanterns in Maibara city, Shiga prefecture, Japan.
Maibara is a laid-back town, overlooking Mt. Ibuki in the east, and Lake Biwa in the west. Mt. Ibuki is the highest mountain in Shiga, that is covered with snow in winter, and it appears in Kojiki (an early Japanese chronicle of myths, legends, etc.). The statue of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (a character in Kojiki) stands quietly on the top of the mountain. The flowers that can only be seen there are very pretty, perfect for mountaineering. By the Amano river flowing into Lake Biwa, we can see innumerable fireflies named Genji-botaru or Hime-hotaru, as summer approaches. Looking forward to the fantastic sight every year, we feel relaxed and scrape solid ink, draw letters with a brush, and finish the lanterns one by one.

We will make and deliver paper lanterns from Maibara living with fireflies.

Sayako Torii

　Born and grown up in Osaka, Japan
　2007　learned English and graduated Kansai Gaidai University
　2008　engaged in translation of manuals, specifications at an                         electronics manufacturer.
　　　　 On the other hand, majored in the Japanese painting                             course in correspondence edication, Kyoto Universuty of                     the Arts (京都造形芸術大学通信教育部日本画コース)
    2012 graduated the above course　

    Currently invoilved in lantern production in Maibara

I've loved drawing since I was little. Expressing with a brush is fun for both pictures and letters. I also love travelling and travelled abroad when I was a student. After graduating, I was involved in translation at an electronics manufacturer. However I couldn't forget fun of drawing, and take my courage in majoring the Japanese painting course in correspondence education where I could learn while working. Linked by fate, I moved to Maibara city in Shiga pref., and joined my husband's family business of painting lanterns.
In January 2021, we've opened this website with the hope that you can order lanterns more easily.