Shimatani Shoryu Kobo’s Singing Bowls

In the city of Takaoka, in the heart of Toyama Prefecture, a region known for its metalwork technique, takaoka doki, the Shimatani Shoryu Kobo studio makes orin, singing bowls used during Buddhist prayer. The tinkling sound that is released, created by running a wooden percussion beater over the sides of the bowl, is used to support Japanese meditation.

A fourth-generation artisan, Yoshinori Shimatani uses traditional hammering (tankin) methods and draws on expertise passed down through the generations since the start of the 20th century. The process has barely changed: it begins with a brass plate being patiently hammered and then heated, before finally undergoing a tonal adjustment to avoid any jarring notes. Three months after the initial strike of the hammer, the piece is finished. The singing bowls made by the Shimatani Shoryu Kobo studio are used in numerous temples across Japan, like the celebrated Nanzenji temple in Kyoto, Eiheiji in Fukui, Sojiji in Kanagawa, and Naritasan in Fukuoka.

More information on Shimatani Shoryu Kobo can be found on the studio’s website (only in Japanese).