October 4th (Sat) - 5th (Sun), 2025
Céline Wright x Hiyoshiya "COCOON Light"
Since 2024, Hiyoshiya has been the official distributor in Japan of French designer Céline Wright’s delicate and warm washi paper lighting. Crafted from natural materials and shaped by hand, these lamps provide customers with gentle illumination. Now, in collaboration with Céline Wright, Hiyoshiya has created an exclusive pendant light model for the Japanese market: the COCOON Light. Inspired by the form of a cocoon, layers of washi paper are intricately arranged to create a light that adds depth and a soft glow to interior spaces. It is suitable both for professional interior design use, such as in hotels, and for private homes.
Dialogue of Light and Washi
To commemorate this collaboration, the special exhibition Dialogue of Light and Washi by Céline Wright and Hiyoshiya will be held over two days, October 4 (Sat) and 5 (Sun), 2025, at the France Pavillon of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. With Expo 2025 closing on October 13, there is still time to visit. We warmly encourage you to come and look forward to seeing you.
WORKSHOP
Workshop by Céline Wright to experience the creative process with washi paper.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Live demonstration of crafting a large Kyoto-style umbrella over 2 meters in diameter by the fifth-generation head of Hiyoshiya.
EXHIBITION
Exhibition of the art object Lotus Parasol created by Céline Wright x Hiyoshiya, along with a collection of washi paper lighting.
ART PERFORMANCE
An art performance by the Kyoto-based calligrapher Hiroshi Ueta and Céline Wright.
LIMITED EDITION STAMP
An original stamp for the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai event was available for two days only.
Event Overview
Dates: October 4th (Sat) - 5th (Sun), 2025
Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Venue: Event space inside the France Pavillon at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
Important Notes:
- Please purchase your Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai ticket from the official website and make a reservation for entry before attending.
- A large number of visitors is expected on the day, so be sure to check crowd information on the official website.
- No reservation is needed to enter the France Pavillon or this event.
- Please enter through the dedicated entrance next tot the France Pavillon.
Admission: Free
Visitor Benefits:
- Visitors who show this DM on the day will receive a special benefit. Please show us this screen and bring your business card with you.
About the Guest
Hiroshi Ueta
Hiroshi Ueta began studying calligraphy under his mother from an early age. After graduating from Shikoku University, he studied abroad in China. Based in Kyoto, he works as a calligrapher blending his own creative work with conceptual art, performance and design. He has exhibited his work not only in Japan but also in Australia, France and the United States, and has received numerous awards. In addition to presenting a collaborative series with Céline Wright at Paris Design Week 2023, he has worked together with her on collaborations for Nuit Blanche Kyoto and Villa Kujoyama, Kyoto.
About the Organizers
Céline Wright
Céline Wright has been creating washi paper lighting in her studio in Montreuil, France, for over 30 years. Her delicate and poetic works value the translucency of washi paper and draw inspiration from nature. Committed to sustainability, she pursues craftsmanship using natural materials with environmental awareness. Having spent part of her childhood in Japan, she stayed in Villa Kujoyama in Kyoto in 2022. She continues to explore new possibilities of washi paper, expanding her expression to large-scale installations and land art.
https://www.celinewright.com/gb/
Kyo-Wagasa Hiyoshiya
Founded in the Edo period, Hiyoshiya is the only remaining Kyoto-style wagasa (traditional Japanese umbrella) workshop. Using traditional techniques cultivated over five generations, the company continues to produce and repair a variety of traditional Japanese umbrellas. In 2004, Kotaro Nishibori became the fifth-generation head of the company. With the philosophy that tradition is continuous innovation, Hiyoshiya has not only preserved traditional techniques but also developed new products such as design lighting that make use of the wagasa’s structure and craftsmanship, expanding both domestically and internationally. Using the know-how and network that helped to increase the group’s total sales by about 150 times, in recent years Hiyoshiya has expanded into interior design, consulting, education, and travel businesses, all aimed at preserving and promoting traditional crafts across the Japan.
Mail info@wagasa.com
TCI-LAB.Co.,Ltd.
(Reservation only)
