TSUCHI-YA│Glassware and crafts,
We are planning to propose ways to enjoy glass throughout the year, including the four seasons and annual events in Japan. This time, we will introduce wind chimes, a Japanese summer tradition.
Shinohara Wind Chime Honpo, a long-established glass wind chime store
The place we visited was Shinohara Furin Honpo.
It is one of only two Edo wind chime workshops in Japan.
This time, we visited a workshop in Edogawa Ward.
We asked about the appeal of Edo wind chimes.
A commitment to the sound of Edo wind chimes
The hole where the glass rod hits and makes a sound.
Edo wind chimes have intentionally jagged edges at the ends.
Its special feature is that the sound is produced simply by rubbing the glass vibration tube.
The sound is gentler than the sound of glass crashing together.
It's not constant, but it has a beautiful sound.
Each one is handmade by a craftsman,
Even if the shape is the same, there are individual differences in size and thickness.
No two sounds are the same.
The same recipe since the Edo period
Unchanged since the Edo period,
Edo wind chimes are made by the "air-blowing" method.
Because it is made without using a mold,
Each one has a different thickness and size, which creates a unique tone.
The origins of wind chimes
The origin of the wind chime itself is in China.
It was used in a completely different way than it is today.
I hung it in a bamboo forest and it changes with the wind and the sound it makes.
Its origins lie in a tool called a senfutaku, which is used to tell the fortune of things. It was introduced to Japan along with Buddhism,
The clanging sound of these wind chimes was thought to ward off evil spirits.
(Quoted from the Shinohara Furin Honpo website )
Nowadays, wind chimes are considered a symbol of summer,
Originally it was something that was enjoyed throughout the year.
There are various theories, but one is that wind chimes became established in the summer due to the influence of "hanging shinobu," a ball-shaped item made from creeping ferns that decorates the summer in Japan.
Hang wind chimes on the hanging Shinobu, which is only available in the summer.
That may be why it has that summery image.
Connecting the ancient culture
At TSUCHI-YA, we hope to be able to provide you with wind chimes that can be enjoyed regardless of the season.
At the "Summer Sound Glass Exhibition"
Not only the original Edo wind chimes,
We have some pieces that are sure to be useful this summer.
Prepare for the hot summer with some cool glass crafts.
Buy online here
