The damaged and weak firebag was collapsed and stuck together but I was able to use steam from a tea kettle to gently and slowly soften the old kakishibu and pull it open. When it dried out it stiffened up again. Nick Cladis says “This is: 橋本屋

"Hashi-moto-ya," or, "The Shop of Hashimoto." So, this lantern corresponds to some kind of shop. It could be anything. Soba. Sake. Kimono. Anything! There are hundreds of Hashimoto Ya in Japan.” We agreed it could have also been a ryokan, restaurant, or drinking place too. Unusual “V” shaped reinforcing threads on both sides of the firebag that were laid against the lantern form before the paper was applied apparently. That is, the threads were not tied to each higo ring.