More than 130 years of craftsmanship in Noto
The story of Takazawa Candle began in 1892 in Nanao, on the Noto Peninsula.
For generations, the house has been dedicated to making wa-rousoku, traditional Japanese candles.
Noto is more than just the place where they are made. The region is an integral part of Takazawa’s identity: its landscapes, plants and materials directly inspire the house’s creations.
This connection is particularly important in a craft where nature has historically provided much of the raw materials.
Today, Takazawa continues to preserve these techniques while evolving its shapes and designs. A way of keeping an ancient craft alive, rather than freezing it in tradition.
Some collections therefore echo the silhouettes of plants characteristic of the peninsula, turning the candles into decorative objects even before they are lit.
A way of keeping an ancient craft alive without leaving it stuck in the past.
What makes a wa-rousoku so unique
A wa-rousoku is made very differently from a traditional Western candle.
Takazawa primarily works with plant-based waxes, including wax made from sumac berries, rice bran, rapeseed oil and urushi wax.
But its most distinctive feature can be found at the very center of the candle: the wick.
Traditionally, it is made by hand from washi paper and dried rush.
Its structure is hollow. As the candle burns, air can circulate inside the wick while the wax gradually rises.
This construction produces a larger and more luminous flame than that of a conventional candle.
At Takazawa Candle, the flame is therefore not simply a way to diffuse a fragrance or light a room. It becomes the heart of the object.
A flame that evolves
The flame of a wa-rousoku is remarkably alive.
It moves, varies in intensity and changes as the candle gradually burns down.
It is precisely this presence that Takazawa seeks to highlight.
Unlike many contemporary candles, the experience is not centered around a powerful fragrance. The house’s candles contain no artificial fragrance, leaving the spotlight on the light and movement of the flame.
They can accompany a dinner without interfering with the aromas of the meal, a moment of reading, a few minutes of quiet or a meditative practice.
The candle becomes less a home fragrance than an object of light.
Forms inspired by the nature of Noto
Takazawa does more than reproduce traditional forms.
The house also creates contemporary candles whose silhouettes draw directly from the nature of the Noto Peninsula.
Some evoke local plants, while others play with simple, sculptural proportions.
Even before they are lit, they can therefore be seen as small decorative objects.
Then, as they are used, their form gradually evolves and disappears, giving way to light.
It is a distinctly Japanese way of conceiving an object: its beauty does not necessarily lie in remaining intact, but also in the transformation that comes with its use.
Light as a ritual
Lighting a Takazawa candle requires no special technique.
That is precisely what makes the gesture so meaningful.
You light the wick, the flame gradually takes its place and the atmosphere of the room immediately changes.
A few minutes are all it takes.
The light can accompany the beginning or end of the day, a meal, a screen-free moment or simply the desire to slow down.
This simplicity reflects an approach to well-being that we particularly appreciate at Bijo;: paying more attention to a gesture that might otherwise be performed automatically.
The candle does not necessarily add something spectacular to everyday life. It simply changes the way we experience a moment.
Takazawa Candle at SUPER JAPON
For SUPER JAPON, Bijo; presents a selection of Takazawa Candle designs, offering an introduction to their forms, materials and this craft still little known in France.
The experience will also continue from September 24 to 26 at Biën;, with a special gathering featuring TAKAZAWA CANDLE and Syouryu Orin.
A meeting centered around two essential elements in many Japanese rituals: light and sound.
Where to discover Takazawa Candle?
Bijo; Japanese Beauty Bar — SUPER JAPON
Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche
L’EXPO — 2nd floor
24 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris
Until October 18, 2026
TAKAZAWA CANDLE × Syouryu Orin
September 24 to 26
Biën;
10 rue Casimir Delavigne, Paris 6th
With Takazawa Candle, a hand-shaped wick and a flame are all it takes to tell the story of more than 130 years of Japanese craftsmanship.
