Yame lanterns - made in the area around Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu - are characterized by a single-strand spiral bamboo frame wound into a spiral shape. This framing method is said to be the origin of modern-day Bon lanterns, which are displayed in front of Buddhist altars and other places during the Obon period to honor ancestors. Bon lantern-making began in the mid-1800s, and continues today. Yame lanterns are decorated with beautifully colored paintings of flowers, birds, and plants. The fire box is made of thin Yame handmade washi paper or silk, and the inside is transparent, creating a cool and fantastical atmosphere.