Nakamura Candles are completely recyclable and friendly to nature｜The 4th generation head of the company talks about the charm of Japanese candles

Did you know that Japanese candles are now attracting attention in the international media?

For more than 135 years, craftsmen at Nakamura Candles in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, have been making Japanese candles. Since the raw materials of Japanese candles are derived from plants and the waste is returned to nature after use, they are attracting worldwide attention from SDGs and ecological perspectives.

In this interview, we spoke with Mr. Tagawa, the fourth generation Nakamura candle maker, about the history and appeal of Japanese candles.

Nakamura Candles, a long-established business in Fushimi, Kyoto｜Striving to keep tradition alive

Nakamura Candle was founded in 1887, and has been making Japanese candles for over 135 years. Mr. Tagawa, the fourth generation of the family, has been a candle craftsman for 35 years.

His main customers are shrines, temples, tea ceremony halls, and wholesale stores throughout Japan. However, with the spread of Western candles made from petroleum-based materials, the demand for Japanese candles has been decreasing. Mr. Tagawa is concerned about the decline of Japanese candles and is vigorously working to promote their appeal.

Mr. Tagawa says, “There are only about 10 Japanese candle shops left in Japan. Not only Japanese candle makers, but also companies that produce raw materials and tools are decreasing in number, and the industry as a whole is shrinking. If the industry were to disappear completely, it would be difficult to revive it on our own. To prevent this from happening, we are trying to spread the appeal of Japanese candles by holding period dramas using Japanese candles and appearing in the media.

The charm of Japanese candles is their large flickering orange flame.

From Nakamura Candles official website

The flame of a Japanese candle is a faint orange color. On the other hand, the flame of a Western candle is whitish. This is due to the difference in boiling points. Vegetable wax has a lower melting point than petroleum wax, resulting in a warmer light that is more gentle on the eye. There is also less oily smoke and a slight aroma of melting wax.

After ignition, the liquid wax is sucked up by the wick and evaporates with the flame, so there is almost no dripping. Because there is little soot, the wick does not easily get dirty, and even if it does get dirty, it can be easily wiped off.

Mr. Tagawa said, “The reason why the streets are covered in warm orange in the nighttime depictions in period dramas is because Japanese candles and campfire lights were actually used in the olden days. Also, the reason why maiko (apprentice geisha) are painted white is so that they can be seen in the orange light of the Japanese candles. It is not easy for even Japanese people to know this kind of knowledge, but on the other hand, more and more foreign people who are familiar with Japanese culture know about it”.

Fully recyclable Japanese candles are attracting attention from around the world

Nakamura Candles’ Japanese candles are made entirely from plant-derived materials. Only Japanese sumac (wax tree), rice bran, and palm palm are used. Because all materials are derived from nature, the waste left over after use can be returned to nature just like food scraps. On the other hand, the waste left after using Western candles is treated as industrial waste and must be disposed of. The fully recyclable design of Japanese candles is often featured in the international media.

Mr. Tagawa said, “Originally, we used to make candles using only sumac wax, but the eruption of Mount Unzen-Fugendake in the early 1990s wiped out all the sumac trees in Nagasaki Prefecture, which was the main production area. Since then, we have been making not only wood wax but also a blend of rice bran wax and palm wax.

Recently, candles are used in yoga and meditation, but when petroleum-based candles are used, oily smoke is generated, which may be harmful to the body. The smoke produced by Japanese candles is derived from plants, so it has no adverse health effects.”

The feel of the manufacturing process is different every year.

In the workshop, Japanese candles are made by hand by craftsmen. At the most, about 1,000 small candles are made.

Mr. Tagawa said, “The raw materials are all plant-derived, so each year the feel of the candles during the manufacturing process is different. When we are mixing the raw materials, sometimes it is dry, and sometimes it is sticky in years when there is a lot of rain. There is a process of applying the raw materials to the candle by hand, and some years it is easy to apply, and other years it is not.”

His specialty is “hand-painted candles.

From Nakamura Candles official website

Nakamura’s top recommendation is “hand-painted picture candles” in addition to the traditional stick-shaped Japanese candles. Hand-painted illustrations by craftsmen add color to your room.

Mr. Tagawa says, “Picture candles originated in Matsuwaka, Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture. It was a snowy region where flowers could not be grown, so instead of flowers to be offered at the Buddhist altar, painted candles were used to decorate the altar. In the Edo period (1603-1867), they were offered to the shogun’s family. Pictured candles can be lit, but they are generally displayed as interior decorations.

Conclusion

We have introduced Nakamura Candles’ Japanese candles. Japanese candles are handmade by craftsmen, used in shrines, temples, and tea ceremonies, and are an inseparable part of Japanese culture.

From the perspective of the SDGs and ecology, Japanese candles are once again attracting attention. Japanese candles are revolutionary because they are environmentally and physically friendly.

The orange, quietly flickering light will soothe the viewer. They can be used in a variety of ways, such as for home decor, bathing, and meditation. Why not make use of them for relaxing time at home?

Nakamura Candles official website and online store