In a quiet workshop in Shizuoka, Japan, artisans weave 1 mm-thin bamboo strips by hand using a technique passed down for generations. In a solar-powered factory in Johannesburg, South Africa, young people assemble solar lights under fair trade conditions.

Sonnenglas® EN (縁) exists where these two worlds meet.

This new Sonnenglas collaboration is more than a new lantern. It is a cross-continental collaboration that brings together traditional Japanese craftsmanship and socially responsible solar innovation – creating something that makes sense for our time: sustainable, beautiful, and full of meaning.

And perhaps nowhere could such a product emerge more naturally than in Japan – the land of the rising sun.

Why This Product Exists

At Sonnenglas, we’re guided by a simple but powerful ethos: A product must make sense for the customer, for the people who make it, and for the planet.

To us, good design isn’t just about what a product does - it’s about how it’s made and the impact its making has. That’s what we call design with integrity - and it’s the foundation of everything we do.

With Sonnenglas® EN (縁), we found a way to fully live that principle. This is a product that honors ancient tradition while solving real-world needs. It is crafted with care, powered by sunlight, and built on a partnership that bridges cultures and continents.

Sonnenglas in Japan

In Japan, Sonnenglas has been cherished since 2018 - initially as a trustworthy light during earthquakes and power outages, and soon after as a beloved part of everyday life. You’ll find it gently glowing in homes, cafés, and quiet corners across the country.

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Sonnenglas recommended as an emergency light in Japan’s The Sankei newspaper

What touches us deeply is how people in Japan describe Sonnenglas. The light it creates is often called “healing”, a word we rarely hear in other countries — and one that moves us greatly. It’s a reminder that good design can go beyond function to offer comfort, calm, and emotional presence.

This reception has made Sonnenglas® not only a part of daily rituals, but also the recipient of two Good Design Awards and a Social Products Award in Japan — recognitions that celebrate both its aesthetic and its social impact.

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Tradition Reimagined: The Craft of Suruga Bamboo

The lantern’s shade is made using Suruga Takesensuji Zaiku – a bamboo craft native to Shizuoka with over a century of tradition. It involves meticulously hand-weaving ultra-thin bamboo rods into airy, geometric structures that seem to defy gravity.

Our partner in this collaboration, Miyabi Andon, is one of the last remaining workshops preserving this craft. Known for their finely crafted Andon lanterns and thoughtful design, they bring a philosophy that resonates deeply with ours: work with natural materials, preserve heritage, and create with patience and precision.

With Sonnenglas® EN (縁), this historical technique finds new life.
A traditional light, reborn through solar energy.

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Powered by SOMO – Solar Light with Social Purpose

At the heart of the lantern sits the award-winning SOMO Solar Light, developed by Sonnenglas in South Africa. It’s compact, efficient, and powerful — charging via sunlight or USB-C and delivering up to 100 hours of light on a single charge.

But SOMO is more than a lighting module. It is assembled by hand in our Fair Trade–certified factory in Johannesburg, where we currently provide stable, meaningful jobs for 50 young people in a region facing one of the world’s highest youth unemployment rates.

This is what we mean by social impact through design: Every unit of light we create supports real people, real futures, and real dignity.

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