小田原市地場産業振興協議会(英語)

Odawara lanterns have three major features that are called san-toku, or special features, as follows: (1) As their top and bottom lids are made from the wood of sacred trees from Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple, Odawara lanterns are believed to protect travelers against evil spirits. (2) They are sometimes called futokoro chochin as they are collapsible, easy to carry and small enough to fit in the futokoro, or bosom of the kimono. (3) The bamboo ribs used in the body are whittled into four-sided bars and can be firmly glued to the outer paper, thus the paper remains on the ribs even when exposed to the rain or mist.

These type of lanterns are called yumihari (drawn bow) as their handle is shaped like a drawn bow. You can often see government officials carrying this type of lantern in Japanese period dramas and movies, and even today, men participating in matsuri or festivals carry Yumihari lanterns. In fact, the lanterns are used in a variety of ways, such as a front door ornament or as a gift, and customized ones with a family name and/or crest are used at Bon, the Japanese Buddhist ceremony to honor the deceased sprits of one’s ancestors.

These type of lanterns is hung outside of shrine buildings, often during matsuri or festival times, to illuminate the surroundings.