A was a type of Japanese gyroscopic

lantern A lantern is an often portable source of lighting, typically featuring a protective enclosure for the light sourcehistorically usually a candle or a wick in oil, and often a battery-powered light in modern timesto make it easier to carry and h ...

invented in the early Edo period. Using a unique method of directional light projection, it was comparable in use to a modern

flashlight A flashlight ( US, Canada) or torch ( UK, Australia) is a portable hand-held electric lamp. Formerly, the light source typically was a miniature incandescent light bulb, but these have been displaced by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) since the ...

. This type of lantern is also known as a .

Summary

The external shroud was bell-shaped and could be made of copper, tinplate, or later galvanized steel. A handle was mounted at the rear of the shroud. Inside, two steel rings in free rotation formed a dual-axis gimbal, and a candle was fixed at the center on a self-stabilizing pan to catch excess wax. Behind this assembly was a parabolic mirror. This ensured that the candle always stood vertically and thereby could remain lit no matter what angle the lantern was pointed. Because light was only projected forward, the user could illuminate an object without revealing their own face. ''Gandō'' are said to have been popular with burglars and watchmen alike in medieval times. During the Second World War, ''gandō'' were distributed to

civil defense Civil defense ( en, region=gb, civil defence) or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state (generally non-combatants) from man-made and natural disasters. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, miti ...

organizations like the tonarigumi. This type of lantern appears to have remained in use until around 1945. Today, ''gandō'' are sometimes sensationalized as .

References

{{authority control Japanese inventions Samurai weapons and equipment Light fixtures Flashlights