The Journey of Candle Making, Starting with Repaying My Mother's Kindness

Yes, I am a candle artist, and I also design logos and apparel. It's not just candles. Yes, for example, logos for clothing brands, and also, many people ask me to design logos for them, and I also design my own clothing. I don't have a physical store, but I sell online through Instagram and a site called BASE, and I also sell face-to-face at events.

Originally, I was a salaryman. I was an engineer for 8 years, but my mother got cancer and her life was in danger. I wasn't married and had no children, so I thought I had to do something to repay her. She often lit candles at night, and I thought I could do something with that. I went to a hundred-yen shop, bought candles, melted them, poured them into molds, and posted them on Facebook. Many people saw them and said they were amazing, so I decided to aim for this and work hard to repay her, which led to where I am now.

At first, I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to create. But I decided to master this field and actually acquired a qualification to become a candle artist. I attended a candle school in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, took written and practical exams, and passed to become a recognized artist. Since there aren't many male artists, I incorporated my own hobbies and developed my own style, which took time but I finally finished.

Since I wanted to repay her, I wanted to make sales. But there were many seniors above me, and I couldn't compete. I didn't have my own style yet. So, I wondered what I wanted to create and what to sell, and it took time to find my own style.

Originally, we use commercial candles. They are not as small as rice grains but a bit larger. We buy a lot of these, about 20 kg, which costs about 20,000 yen now. We buy the materials, melt them, add special coloring paint, pour them, and it takes time to harden, so we leave them for half a day or a day. It's difficult because we have to mix various colors, and sometimes it doesn't turn out as I imagine. Also, there are issues with temperature, so there are such aspects, but that's about the process.

When pouring the melted candle, which is called "chūrō," there is a certain temperature. If you pour it at a constant temperature, it may not turn out as you imagine, or it may crack or become uneven. So, I thoroughly manage the temperature. Also, when adding strength, I add additives to the candle material, which increases the surrounding strength. I have to be careful because if it breaks, it could lead to complaints, so I pay attention to such things.

I struggled a lot, but like many handmade artists, the shape or color of what I made overlapped with others. I wondered what I should create. Many people are probably confused now. So, finding a style that doesn't overlap with anyone else's was quite difficult. Finding your own color is tough.

When I actually quit my job and started this work, and when what I made sold, and when it was recognized, I thought it was worth doing. And when I donated the sales and received a thank-you letter, I felt it was worth doing. Also, when someone introduces my work to others and they want to buy it, I think it's worth doing. It creates a good chain, which I think is great.

When I actually pour, harden, and remove it, I can't see the color inside until I remove it. When I remove it and see a good mix of colors, my excitement rises. I sometimes think, "I don't want to sell this," but that's when I'm most excited. Also, when I light my creations on mountains and they match the mountain scenery, my excitement rises.

Since I'm self-employed, there are ups and downs. For candles, sales decrease in summer because it's hot and people don't want to light them. So, I get a bit nervous about how to make sales.

In Shimokitazawa, Tokyo, there's a Christmas candle-lighting event. Various artists light their candles in the streets of Shimokitazawa, and it's a contest. My decorative candle was selected and awarded through public voting, which made me very happy. Many people in Setagaya, Tokyo, wanted to do this, so I participated and winning the award boosted my confidence.

I was surprised that there were almost no male artists. Female artists make up about 90%, I think. Originally, there were many men who liked candles. Even though I look like this, many people, including those who actually use candles, said, "Candles are great." I was surprised that the female demographic was overwhelmingly strong. Both artists and buyers. If I hadn't done this, I wonder if men would buy such things. The image of it being a female thing was too strong. But somehow, I feel like I've changed that a bit, and now it's changing.

Even when I'm not working, I'm basically thinking about what colors to create next, what shapes to make, and where to light them. So, it's inseparable. But ultimately, play becomes work. But I'm always thinking about exciting things. Like what would make people happy or what they would appreciate. I was thinking about it on the way here. For example, if I'm driving and think, "I want to light a candle here," I light a candle and take a photo there too.

For example, in this industry, many people quit halfway. They quit because they can't sell or because their work overlaps with others. There were many such people around me. So, to prevent that, various artists and seniors should support each other to create an environment where they can continue. We need to do that. I want to convey the fun to those who want to start and increase the number of artists.

Well, as I mentioned earlier, to avoid overlapping with others, I conduct experiments. I add various things to the material to see what happens, or how much the burning time increases. I keep doing this to differentiate myself, not to make something that people will be happy with. In that sense, I'm improving my technology.

My artistic inclination is strong. Business is important, of course, but if I think too much about business, I probably won't be able to create what I want to create. So, for now, if my creations can support my business, that's fine. I don't want to become a mass-produced artist. I want people to appreciate my style and evaluate it, and that's how I earn. I call myself a candle artist.

Most people have lit candles before, I think, for funerals or something. The candles generally sold are a bit bigger. When you light them, the way they heal you is different from regular candles. Just looking at them is healing. Also, the wick is made of thread, called a wood wick, and there are also branch wicks. When you light them, they make a crackling sound like a bonfire. So, you can imagine a short bonfire inside your house, listen to the sound of the bonfire, and be healed. I think it's the ultimate healing.

Well, there are many women who want to become artists or open their own studios at home, which is great. On the contrary, the number of men who like candles has increased, so I would be really happy if more artists like me appeared. I want to spread the word that it's not bad for men to make candles too. I also think about creating a big event as a team.