"WA" Lighting Fixture, Utilizing Strap Handles from "8500 Series" Trains that Operated on the Den-en-toshi Line, Receives "Red Dot Design Award 2026"!
Tokyu Corporation and Tokyu Railways announced that "WA," a lighting fixture utilizing strap handles from the retired "8500 series" trains, has received the "Red Dot Design Award 2026" and other international design awards. It is recognized for its contribution to resource recycling and design excellence.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 14:31
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Tokyu Corporation (hereinafter referred to as Tokyu) and Tokyu Railways Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Tokyu Railways) have been selling the "WA" lighting fixture, which utilizes strap handles used in the "8500 series" trains that operated on the Den-en-toshi Line, since August 2025. This time, "WA" has received the "Red Dot Design Award 2026" (hereinafter referred to as "this Award").
This Award is an internationally prestigious design award organized by the "Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen" in Germany. It is divided into three categories: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design, and Design Concept. Annually, winners are selected by a panel of international design experts. As a result of the judging, "WA" was highly evaluated in the Sustainable Design category of the Product Design section and received this Award.
In addition to this Award, "WA" has also received awards in two other internationally prestigious competitions and award programs. It won the monthly "GOLD" in March 2026 at the "FRAME Awards 2026," organized by the Dutch interior design magazine "FRAME," and received the "Longlist" awarded to the top 15 in the "Lighting design" category at the "Dezeen Award 2025."
From the perspective of resource circulation, "WA" is a lighting fixture utilizing strap handles from the "8500 series" trains, which ceased regular operation in January 2023, and is sold by Tokyu. Designed by "Akasaki & Vanhuyse," a London-based design studio, "WA" incorporates the aging of the long-used strap handles as part of its design, creating an original product that illuminates the memory of the "8500 series" trains that operated on the Den-en-toshi Line.
Tokyu and Tokyu Railways will continue to promote the reuse of waste materials generated in their businesses and encourage resource reuse throughout the railway industry, aiming for the realization of a circular society.
### About "WA"
(1) Product Name: "WA"
(2) Design: Akasaki & Vanhuyse
(3) Sales Price: 109,000 yen (tax included)
(4) Sales Quantity: 150 units (limited edition)
(5) Light Source Specifications: E17 LED bulb (warm white)
(6) Power Consumption: 1.2W
(7) Dimensions: W114mm x D120mm x H193mm
(8) Body Weight: Approx. 1.2kg
(9) Material Finish: Stainless steel / Resin (strap handle)
(10) Release Date: August 25, 2025 (Monday) - Sales will end once stock runs out.
(11) Product Website: https://wa-trainstraps.com
*Distributed by Tokyu, Manufactured by Saito Lighting Co., Ltd.
### About the "8500 Series"
The "8500 series" debuted in 1975 as an inter-running vehicle for the mutual direct operation of the Shin-Tamagawa Line (between Shibuya and Futako-Tamagawaen, now part of the Den-en-toshi Line) and Eidan Subway (now Tokyo Metro) Hanzomon Line, based on the 8000 series already in use at the time. A total of 400 cars (40 sets of 10 cars) were manufactured, the most for Tokyu Railways. In 1976, it became the only Tokyu Railways vehicle to receive the "Railway Friendship Association Laurel Award." It was used not only on the Den-en-toshi Line but also on the Toyoko Line and Oimachi Line, serving as a daily commute for many customers along the Tokyu lines for a long time. However, with the introduction of successor vehicles, the 5000 series and 2020 series, regular operation ceased on January 25, 2023. Furthermore, in April 2026, an 8500 series train was revived as a 4-car formation for dynamic preservation, capable of main line running.
### About the "WA" Designers
"Akasaki & Vanhuyse" (https://www.akasakivanhuyse.com/) is a London-based design studio. It was founded by Kenta Akasaki, a Japanese designer/architect, and Astrid Vanhuyse, a French industrial designer. By combining their different perspectives, they develop a wide range of projects from product, tech, lighting, and furniture design to research. Their approach is consistently purpose-driven, emphasizing the realization of long-lasting ideas. They have a track record of collaborating with international brands such as Nothing and Ligne Roset and have received awards including the iF Design Award Gold, Red Dot Design Award, and Dezeen Award. They also operate the product shop "SHOP A V."
This Award is an internationally prestigious design award organized by the "Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen" in Germany. It is divided into three categories: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design, and Design Concept. Annually, winners are selected by a panel of international design experts. As a result of the judging, "WA" was highly evaluated in the Sustainable Design category of the Product Design section and received this Award.
In addition to this Award, "WA" has also received awards in two other internationally prestigious competitions and award programs. It won the monthly "GOLD" in March 2026 at the "FRAME Awards 2026," organized by the Dutch interior design magazine "FRAME," and received the "Longlist" awarded to the top 15 in the "Lighting design" category at the "Dezeen Award 2025."
From the perspective of resource circulation, "WA" is a lighting fixture utilizing strap handles from the "8500 series" trains, which ceased regular operation in January 2023, and is sold by Tokyu. Designed by "Akasaki & Vanhuyse," a London-based design studio, "WA" incorporates the aging of the long-used strap handles as part of its design, creating an original product that illuminates the memory of the "8500 series" trains that operated on the Den-en-toshi Line.
Tokyu and Tokyu Railways will continue to promote the reuse of waste materials generated in their businesses and encourage resource reuse throughout the railway industry, aiming for the realization of a circular society.
### About "WA"
(1) Product Name: "WA"
(2) Design: Akasaki & Vanhuyse
(3) Sales Price: 109,000 yen (tax included)
(4) Sales Quantity: 150 units (limited edition)
(5) Light Source Specifications: E17 LED bulb (warm white)
(6) Power Consumption: 1.2W
(7) Dimensions: W114mm x D120mm x H193mm
(8) Body Weight: Approx. 1.2kg
(9) Material Finish: Stainless steel / Resin (strap handle)
(10) Release Date: August 25, 2025 (Monday) - Sales will end once stock runs out.
(11) Product Website: https://wa-trainstraps.com
*Distributed by Tokyu, Manufactured by Saito Lighting Co., Ltd.
### About the "8500 Series"
The "8500 series" debuted in 1975 as an inter-running vehicle for the mutual direct operation of the Shin-Tamagawa Line (between Shibuya and Futako-Tamagawaen, now part of the Den-en-toshi Line) and Eidan Subway (now Tokyo Metro) Hanzomon Line, based on the 8000 series already in use at the time. A total of 400 cars (40 sets of 10 cars) were manufactured, the most for Tokyu Railways. In 1976, it became the only Tokyu Railways vehicle to receive the "Railway Friendship Association Laurel Award." It was used not only on the Den-en-toshi Line but also on the Toyoko Line and Oimachi Line, serving as a daily commute for many customers along the Tokyu lines for a long time. However, with the introduction of successor vehicles, the 5000 series and 2020 series, regular operation ceased on January 25, 2023. Furthermore, in April 2026, an 8500 series train was revived as a 4-car formation for dynamic preservation, capable of main line running.
### About the "WA" Designers
"Akasaki & Vanhuyse" (https://www.akasakivanhuyse.com/) is a London-based design studio. It was founded by Kenta Akasaki, a Japanese designer/architect, and Astrid Vanhuyse, a French industrial designer. By combining their different perspectives, they develop a wide range of projects from product, tech, lighting, and furniture design to research. Their approach is consistently purpose-driven, emphasizing the realization of long-lasting ideas. They have a track record of collaborating with international brands such as Nothing and Ligne Roset and have received awards including the iF Design Award Gold, Red Dot Design Award, and Dezeen Award. They also operate the product shop "SHOP A V."