A CULT CLASSIC, REDISCOVERED AND REDEFINED

The TOKIO lamp, a razor-sharp fusion of Japanese minimalism and Italian modernism, first lit up the design scene in 1980, turning heads with its technical precision and distinctive aesthetic. Now it’s back. And it’s dressed a little differently.

PLEASE WAIT to be SEATED presents the TOKIO lamp in a brand-new finish: Turmeric Yellow. Vibrant and unapologetic. this bold colour injection elevates the iconic table lamp with a fresh sense of energy – all without compromising the integrity of the original design.

BACK IN THE LIGHT
Originally designed in 7980 by Shigeaki Asa hara for the Italian lighting company Stilnovo, the TOKIO lamp quickly stood out as a forvvard-thinking piece of functional design.

Asa hara didn’t just want it to look good – he wanted it to move beautifully. Most lamps require you to adjust the head to direct the light. The TOKIO lamp reimagined this: by tilting the entire structure, you could change the light’s angle without ever touching the head.

Technically precise yet visually restrained, the lamp achieved a rare balance. Its innovation was recognised with a Compasso d’Oro, one of Italian design’s highest honours, the same year it launched.

While it quietly slipped out of production in the decades that followed, the TOKIO lamp retained cult status among collectors and design insiders, praised for its timeless geometry and cross-cultural DNA.

That is, until Danish design brand PLEASE WAIT to be SEATED brought the icon back. In close collaboration with Asa hara, the studio reissued the lamp with careful updates that respected the original while modernising key features to meet today’s standards.

The reissued version introduces LED lighting, a refined spherical dimmer ball for tactile control, and subtle tweaks to scale – making the lamp more versatile, efficient, and ready for modern spaces, without losing an ounce of its original attitude.