Hiroyuki Maemori

前森宏之

まえもり　ひろゆき

Lantern lettering

The art of writing characters on lanterns. Lantern makers appeared around the mid-17th century, depicted in works like the “Illustrated Dictionary of Early Modern Craftsmen” (1805) and “Treasure Ship Katsura’s Mast” (1827), showing artisans inscribing characters on lanterns. The tracing brush technique and the double-hook and cage-character methods used by lantern makers also emerged around this time.
During the Edo period, lanterns were widely used as portable lighting. They were decorated with characters, family crests, and divine emblems for ceremonies like weddings and funerals, festivals, and also served as shop signs. Today, they are still used not only for ceremonies like festivals and funerals but also for shop signs and other purposes.

About the Craftsman

Mr. Maemori is the third-generation owner of Maemori Shoten, founded by his grandfather, Shigezaemon. Based in a shop and workshop in Arakawa 6-chome, he crafts lanterns not only for local use but also for festivals, shrines, temples, and shop signs across the country through wholesalers.
He apprenticed under his father, Hideyo (deceased, former holder of Arakawa Ward’s Intangible Cultural Property designation), from 1985, mastering the craft. He succeeded his father after his passing in August 2016.
He also strives to master various calligraphic techniques, studying yose-moji (traditional entertainment venue calligraphy) under Tachibana Uta (Nakamura Yasushi, a registered holder of the ward’s intangible cultural property) and Kantō-ryū calligraphy under the second-generation Arai Sanrei (Ueno Shōkichi, an individual, former holder of the ward’s designated intangible cultural property).
He also strives to improve his skills by seeking guidance from various artisans within the ward, such as learning how to make and use tools like bunmawashi from Mr. Shuichi Murata (Ward Registered Intangible Cultural Property Holder).