Okazaki Sekkohin

Lines and planes

Okazaki's stone lanterns are built of simple straight lines and curves that cross to form many more lines and planes, and fine decorative carving adds delicacy and grace. Lanterns began as votive lights for shrines and temples and spread into people's gardens. Types include standing lanterns, low snow-viewing yukimi lanterns and ikekomi lanterns set into the ground. It is made in Okazaki in Aichi.

Stacked from the ground up

• Carving lines are marked on Okazaki granite with a carpenter's square.
• Parts are shaped and finished with koyasuke, nomi chisels, tataki, bishan and small spatula tools.
• The lantern is stacked from the bottom: base, pillar, platform, light chamber, roof and the jewel on top.

Masons for the castle

Okazaki stonework goes back to the late Muromachi period. In the Azuchi-Momoyama period the lord of Okazaki Castle invited masons from Kawachi and Izumi to build the stone walls and moats of the castle town. They went on to create the prototypes of Okazaki stonework, such as the Kasuga-style and hexagonal yukimi lanterns. There were 29 stone shops in the early 19th century and 350 at the pre-war peak.