Tokyo Train Grab Handles Reimagined as Light Fixtures

A softly glowing lamp made from reclaimed resin rings, designed to resemble the strap rings from Tokyo's commuter trains. It features a mirrored stainless steel structure and highlights the wear and history of the materials used.

What if every worn strap in Tokyo’s commuter trains could tell a story? That’s the idea behind the WA lamp, designed by London studio Akasaki & Vanhuyse.

The piece transforms retired train strap rings into a softly glowing table fixture, bringing new life to objects once gripped daily by thousands of commuters.

Interior of a Tokyo commuter train featuring hanging strap rings, empty seats, and mirrored doors.

A vintage Tokyo train approaching the station, showcasing the front view with the number 8511 visible, surrounded by railway tracks and power lines.

Each lamp is constructed from nine reclaimed resin rings, originally part of the handles on Tokyo’s Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line 8500 trains.

About 1,400 of these rings were collected before the trains were retired, with each bearing its own subtle scratches and marks from decades of use.

Close-up of the WA lamp featuring stacked white resin rings and a steel supporting structure, highlighting its design and texture.

An overhead view of a lamp design featuring a circular white strap ring attached to a rectangular white base, resting on a gray surface.

A modern lamp made from recycled train strap rings, featuring a soft glow, set against a backdrop of large windows and a concrete wall.

A softly glowing WA lamp constructed from reclaimed train strap rings, resting on a wooden table against a backdrop of vertical lines.

Close-up of the WA lamp featuring stacked resin rings and a stainless steel frame, showcasing its elegant design and soft matte finish.

Stacked together, the rings form a shade that allows light to filter through their gaps, creating a gentle diffusion.

A nice sandblasted finish enhances their matte quality while preserving the signs of wear, a detail that keeps their history intact.

A softly glowing table lamp made from stacked reclaimed white resin rings and supported by a stainless steel frame, resting on a gray surface.

The supporting structure is made of mirrored stainless steel, giving the compact lamp, just under eight inches tall, a modest elegance. Beyond its clean design, the WA lamp is a thoughtful example of sustainability.

It is designed to be disassembled, packaged responsibly, and built to last, ensuring its second life will extend far into the future.

A modern WA lamp made from stacked white resin rings, featuring a stainless steel frame, placed on a wooden table with minimal decor.

A softly glowing WA lamp made from stacked reclaimed train strap rings, set on a wooden table with chairs in the background.

The result is an object layered with meaning. A functional lamp that carries forward the memories of Tokyo’s daily commute, turning something ordinary into something quietly poetic.

Available via inquiry, these limited edition lamps will be available soon.