A jet of blue flame roars to life as Hidenobu Takahashi, one of Japan’s last traditional neon sign benders, lights the burner in a quiet workshop hidden above the Yokohama streets.
Takahashi-san fell in love with neon in his younger years, inspired by the warm glow that illuminated the Honmoku area of his native Yokohama, as the bright signs began to transform the skylines.
At twenty years-old, he was hired at a neon sign shop, where he apprenticed for a decade before opening his own store, Smile Neon. Today, Hide continues to develop his skill while preserving the traditional method, reflecting: “I’ve been bending neon lights for a long time, but every time I create something new, I learn more and continue studying the craft. It’s a journey that never ends.”
Hide sees each project, regardless of the size, as a creative collaboration with the customer. First, he sketches a blueprint of their design with a detailed drawing. Next, he carefully bends each glass component over fire, alternating between a large bench burner and smaller ribbon burner to capture each subtle detail, adjusting heat while simultaneously blowing the right amount of air into the tubes to maintain their shape. Once formed, the sign is cooled, bombarded with high-voltage electric current to remove any impurities and finally filled with a blend of neon gas that will reveal its color.
It’s a difficult but rewarding process, requiring a strong mental connection between craftsman and medium, Hide admits. “When bending the glass tubes, I empty the mind. It’s like a meditation, a flow.”
This energy transcends into a distinct neon lifestyle that envelopes and informs Hide’s work – his studio is fueled by the sounds of 90’s hip-hop, with handcrafted Naughty by Nature, Bob Marley and Snoop Dogg signs adorning the wall.
The fridge is stocked with imported 40oz bottles of Olde English 800 Malt Liquor and his prize possession – and sign delivery vehicle – is a customized lowrider pickup truck, fully loaded with the works.
While the peak demand for traditional neon signs is yet to return, Takahashi-san sees a growing interest in the retro, Shōwa-era aesthetic from Japan’s younger generation.
His recent projects have included custom signs for artist Yu Nagaba, Brooklyn Brewery, B by Brooklyn Brewery, Freaks Store, Sony, Messika Paris, Coach, Backside Works, Brooklyn Roasting Company and more.
Hide acknowledges the path to becoming a craftsman is a long one, speculating that in the future, his workshop may be open to apprentices seeking to learn the art of neon bending. Until then, he’ll continue to work over glass and flame with an omnipresent smile.