ELECTRICAL – the lamps have been tested in Japan & approved for normal use.  They can be used in North America & Japan.  Electrical components for some European countries & Australia are also available on request.

Lamps can be shipped without electrical components (socket, cord, switch & plug), in which case the buyer would need to install his or her local electrical components.  A discount of US$25.00 will be applied to lamps shipped without electrical components.

Bulbs – if using incandescent bulbs, a maximum of 60W is recommended.  New types of florescent bulbs & LED bulbs save energy, throw off less heat, & offer various colors.  The so-called daylight type give a clean white light, while the traditional color type gives a warmer, redder light.  You can choose a bulb that suits your environment & taste.

CARE – these porcelain lamps should always be handled carefully.  Porcelain is an extremely hard material, but - like fine crystal - when it is thin it is vulnerable to impact shock.

Please:

*always use two hands to pick up the lamps

*keep the lamps out of the reach of boisterous children or pets

*never strike the lamps with a hard object

 If the lamps should break:  HANDLE CAREFULLY! – porcelain shards can be extremely sharp!

CLEANING – the porcelain part of a lamp can be spot-cleaned with soap & water or with a weak bleach solution. 

For something like a scuff mark (on an unglazed surface) that resists spot-cleaning, a fine sandpaper can be used to remove the spot. 

For a more thorough cleaning, the porcelain part of a one-piece lamp can be removed from the wooden base by unscrewing the screw-clamps, lifting the porcelain from the base & carefully washing the part.  Please handle the lamp with care!  Reverse the procedure to replace the porcelain part – do not tighten the screws excessively. 

Tatami – it is not advisable to leave a lamp in one place on new tatami.   Similar to exposing tatami to direct sunlight, the tatami color will change in the area under the lamp that is exposed to the light.