The close relationship between lighting and the economy

Yuichiro Noguchi
Aug 26
3 min read

"I live in a bright space that is no different from the daytime."

One of the symbols of a rich life that many Japanese people have sought is lighting.

The history of lighting began with oil lamps and candles in ancient times. Then, in the 1810s, oil lamps and gas lamps were invented, and in 1879, Edison invented incandescent light bulbs. The fluorescent lamps used in the current mainstream ceiling lights were born around 1940.

Speaking of the most ancient lights, I think it will be a bonfire.

In the Heian period, small plates such as "lighthouses" began to be filled with oil and put on a pedestal to light a fire, and in the Edo period, "Gyoto" was spread with paper around a plate with a fire to protect it out the wind.

However, in families in the Edo period, hearth lights were common, and until around 1900, it was normal to sleep when it was dark, and lights were a luxury item for wealthy families.

After that, incandescent light bulbs gradually became popular, but even so, it was only enough to have one light bulb at home, and it was not until the 1950s that corridors and toilets were lit.

After that, fluorescent lamps will become popular with high economic growth, but I think you can see that the way of lighting is also changing with the development and spread of electricity.

The color temperature of the lighting will also change according to the change.

The color temperature of the candle is 1800K (Kelvin), the incandescent bulb is 2800K, and the fluorescent lamp is 5000K. By the way, the color temperature of the morning sun and sunset is 2000K, and the sunlight during the day is 5000-6500K.

It can be seen that the lights of the home have become brighter and whiter closer to the daytime light with economic development. In many homes, a large ceiling light should be placed in the center of the room, illuminating the entire space with the same brightness as during the day.

Looking back on the history so far, it should have been the same meaning as getting the brightness that is the same as during the day, even at night.

However, recent houses are returning to the light bulb color from the previous white color of fluorescent lights. In addition, more and more people are looking for pendant lights that have disappeared from many families a while ago.

I think this shows that the values of the past, such as "the brighter the brighter, the richer", are changing.

Japan's economic growth has stagnated at its peak in the 1990s.

However, even during the so-called lost 20 years, the market size of convenience stores continued to grow rapidly, and convenience store lighting acquired brighter than fluorescent lamps with LEDs. Even during the day, if there is even a little cloud in the sky, the inside of the convenience store is brighter.

On the other hand, different changes are beginning to appear in home lighting.

Until then, lighting, which had been thought to be "the brighter, the better", but the color temperature is gradually shifting from the white light of fluorescent lamps to the warm bulb color again. In addition, lighting equipment such as naked light bulbs and pendant lights, which should have disappeared once before, has become in demand again.

With economic growth slowing down and the income gap widening, household income is not rising.

Even so, in order to protect their previous lifestyle, there may be places where they are not only working together, but also working overtime and doing excessive side jobs.

Even so, I think Japanese society is richer than ever before. It may not be an exaggeration to say that you can get anything as long as you have money.

However, some people are beginning to realize that convenience and material wealth may not necessarily equal happiness because such a society they once dreamed of has become a reality. And if that is reflected in the change in the lighting of the house, I think the destination is very interesting.