Kingyo Chochin (Goldfish Lantern)
Kingyo Chochin (Yanai Goldfish Lantern)
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Kingyo Chochin is a folk craft handed down in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture: a paper lantern (chochin) in the shape of a goldfish. A frame is made from bamboo ribs and covered with washi paper, then patterns are painted on the body and eyes and fins are attached to finish an adorable goldfish. The vivid red uses the dye of Yanai-jima (Yanai striped cotton), a traditional textile of Yanai. As for its origin, legend has it that a Yanai merchant devised it at the end of the Edo period (Bakumatsu), taking a hint from the kingyo neputa (goldfish Neputa lanterns) of Aomori Prefecture. In the White Wall Townscape (Shirakabe no Machinami), the lanterns hang from the eaves of the houses and are cherished as a symbol of the town. Every year on August 13, the Yanai Kingyo Chochin Festival is held, and several thousand Kingyo Chochin decorate the street in front of the station and the White Wall Townscape. At night the lanterns are lit, and a giant goldfish Nebuta parades through the streets. At やない西蔵 (Yanai Nishigura), a hands-on facility in the White Wall Townscape, visitors can try making one, which takes about 30 minutes.
Origin
Kingyo Chochin are said to have begun at the end of the Edo period. Tourist guides and other sources say that they were devised by 熊谷林三郎, the owner of さかい屋 (Sakaiya), a candle merchant in Yanaizu Kanaya. He is said to have taken a hint from Aomori's Nebuta and made them using the dye of Yanai-jima. Other accounts say that the trigger was a kingyo neputa from Hirosaki that was brought back to Yanai as a souvenir; both versions are told as legends.
History
Kingyo Chochin later died out for a time, but they are said to have been revived in 1962 (Showa 37) based on historical documents. Today they adorn the eaves of the White Wall Townscape and have become Yanai's representative folk craft. The Yanai Kingyo Chochin Festival is held every year on August 13, and the 2026 festival was its 35th. During the festival, about 4,000 lanterns line streets such as 麗都路通り (Retoro-dori) in front of the station, and there are goldfish Nebuta parades, dancing and fireworks.
Features
Washi is pasted onto a frame of bamboo ribs, and melted wax and dye are applied to finish it. Patterns are painted on the body, eyes are pasted on, and tail and pectoral fins are attached to create the shape of a goldfish. It is said that a little yellow is mixed into the red dye to give it a bright hue. Red is the standard, but in recent years pink and light-blue versions and autumn versions with a maple-leaf pattern have also been made. They come in various sizes, including small ones with suction cups that can be attached to windows.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Frame
Bamboo ribs are assembled into a goldfish-shaped frame.
- 2
Papering
Washi is pasted onto the frame.
- 3
Coloring
Melted wax and dye are applied, and patterns are painted on the body and fins.
- 4
Finishing
The eyes are pasted on and the areas around them are painted, and the tail and pectoral fins are attached.
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How to Buy
- 佐川醤油店 (甘露醤油資料館)
- A soy sauce brewery at 3708-1 Yanai, Yanai City, founded in 1830 (Tenpo 1). It offers Kingyo Chochin in 8 colors and 10 patterns, including 3 kinds of red, in various sizes, including ones with suction cups that can be attached to windows. Open 8:00 to 17:00 (9:30 to 16:30 on Sundays and public holidays).Where to buy →PR
- 木阪賞文堂 白壁店
- A stationery shop founded in 1894 (Meiji 27), located at 452 Yanaizu, Yanai City, in the White Wall Townscape. It carries more than 300 items featuring Kingyo Chochin, such as notebooks, sticky notes, pochi-bukuro (small gift envelopes) and T-shirts, including designs that incorporate Yanai-jima. Open 11:00 to 17:00; closed on Mondays and Wednesdays.Where to buy →PR
- きじや
- A souvenir shop at 437 Yanaizu, Yanai City, offering Kingyo Chochin as well as the famous confection 'Tsuki de Hirotta Tamago' (月でひろった卵), folk crafts and Yanai specialties. Open 9:00 to 17:00. Business days may change, so it is best to check in advance.Where to buy →PR
Hands-on Experiences
やない西蔵（金魚ちょうちん製作体験）
山口県柳井市柳井3700-8
You draw the lines of the body and fins on a lantern whose frame and washi covering are already done, paste on the eyes and paint around them, then attach the fins to finish. It takes about 30 minutes, and the fee is about 900 yen for a small one and about 1,000 yen for a medium one. A box for carrying it home costs extra. Reception is from 9:00 to 16:00, and groups of 10 or more need a reservation. Closed on Tuesdays (the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday).
View details →やない西蔵（柳井金魚ちょうちん本格製作体験）
山口県柳井市柳井3700-8
A full-fledged experience of making a Kingyo Chochin from scratch, starting from the bamboo-rib frame and using washi and dye. It takes about half a day and costs about 2,500 yen. It is held every Saturday and Sunday from October to December, twice a day, starting at 9:30 and at 13:00, and reservations are required at least one week in advance.
View details →FAQ
Q. When is the Yanai Kingyo Chochin Festival held?
A. It is held every year on August 13. In 2026, the main festival ran from 16:30 to 21:00, and from July 11 to August 31 the town was also decorated with Kingyo Chochin and lit up at night. The venues are the area around JR Yanai Station, 麗都路通り and the White Wall Townscape.
Q. Besides the White Wall Townscape, are there other sights related to Kingyo Chochin?
A. At the 柳井市町並み資料館 (Yanai-shi Machinami Shiryokan), you can see Kingyo Chochin made of origami and exhibits introducing exchanges with Aomori. There is also the 'Okane Kingyo' (お鐘金魚), into whose head you put a coin, and it is said to be good to carry the coin that comes out as a good-luck charm.