Founded in 1907 in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Yamaguchi Kyujo specialises in orin (おりん), resonant metal bells traditionally used in Buddhist ceremonies. The company's roots lie in Takaoka's metal casting industry, which has developed over more than 400 years and whose copperware was designated a Traditional Craft of Japan in 1975. This regional expertise in casting, shaping and finishing metal provides the foundation for Yamaguchi Kyujo's distinctive approach to sound.

Making an orin involves more than casting its shape. The metal is formed, carefully machined and polished, with the bell's proportions and finishing influencing its tone and resonance. Yamaguchi Kyujo draws on these techniques to produce clear, lingering notes, developing designs that bring the sound of traditional ceremonial bells into contemporary homes and public spaces.

The sound itself remains central to the maker's work. Yamaguchi Kyujo describes its bells as having a 1/f fluctuation, a particular pattern of variation in sound that the company has highlighted through acoustic analysis. It is part of the maker's interest in what gives an orin its distinctive resonance, alongside differences in pitch, sustain and the way each bell is struck.

At iromizu, we were drawn to how Yamaguchi Kyujo combines the sculptural qualities of cast metal with the experience of sound. Its bells are objects with a visual presence even when silent, and a clear, lingering voice when played, offering a distinctive way to mark a moment in everyday life.