In this installment of our series introducing the artisans participating in the Meisterstrasse Japanese Edition, a website that introduces traditional crafts from around the world, we visited Nanjo Kobo in Kyoto.

Nanjo Kobo is the workshop of “Orin”. Orinto are metal Buddhist utensils used in temples and homes. The soothing tone created by tapping lightly with a phosphor stick brings peace to the listener.

The craftsmanship of making orin that emits a beautiful tone

Nanjo Kobo in Kyoto specializes in orin, hayashi gongs, and Buddhist altar items from all over Japan. The gongs used at the Gion Festival, one of Japan's three major festivals, are also made by Nanjo Kobo. The workshop's orin is made from an alloy of tin and copper called Sahari. The alloy is melted at high heat and poured into the combined male and female molds. After it cools, the mold is broken, the contents are taken out, and the orin is formed by carving it on a potter's wheel.

This work is not possible without the skill of skilled craftsmen, as the work is carried out while carefully monitoring complex conditions that change daily, such as the temperature of the furnace, the degree of melting of the metal, the degree of cooling of the mold, and the outside temperature and humidity.

Nanjo Kobo has a history of over 190 years. Kazuya Nanjo, the 7th generation owner, says that even though they are made using the same process, each one has a different tone, explaining the depth of the sound. ``Depending on the listener, it feels different, sometimes it feels comfortable, sometimes it feels nostalgic.When someone finds a pleasant tone among them, that's the moment when I feel glad that I was making it.''

“LinNe” was arrived at in search of a way of being suitable for modern times.

Currently, Nanjo Kobo is starting a new project that takes advantage of the method used to make orin as a Buddhist altar tool. That is "LinNe". The linnet, which is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, is a new type of origami that can be used in a variety of ways, such as as an accessory for a bag or hung from the eaves as a wind chime. It was originally created out of a desire for people to feel the sounds close to them, and is designed to be portable and easy to use.

While incorporating traditional methods, Linnaeus' development was a series of fresh experiences, including research into new materials and designs for accessories. Also, unlike Buddhist accessories, which are miscellaneous goods that we do not need to sell ourselves, we developed them by listening to the voices of many people. Nanjo says that the various opinions he received there gave him new inspiration. Furthermore, Rinne has brought new expansion to Orin's world, including collaborations with sound artists and holding workshops at Apple Kyoto.

``I used to think that I was training to make Buddhist utensils, but when I was actually making the tones, my mindset changed.I realized that every step of the process is for the sake of the tones. It would be great if the sounds could be a driving force in something like that, calming the mood or giving energy."

Orin, whose use was limited to a limited number of places, has evolved into a more familiar tool in the hands of the younger generation to soothe people's hearts. That tone is now reverberating not only in Japan, but around the world.