What are Edo wind chimes?

This time, we received cooperation from Shinohara Furin Honpo, a glass wind chime workshop that has inherited the manufacturing methods and techniques from the Edo period. The technique of free-blown glass has not changed since the Edo period. Since each one is handmade, there are individual differences in size and thickness. These differences are also reflected in the difference in tone. No two Edo wind chimes have the same sound.

A wind chime made of clear glass with a tactile feel

Usually, smooth surfaces are chosen for painting. On the other hand, those with bubbles or wrinkles have limited uses and tend to pile up in stock. This time, we chose transparent wind chimes that never see the light of day. We thought that they have the unique texture of glass and the appeal of transparent glass.

A collaboration between Shinohara Furin Honpo and Tsuchiya Bag Manufacturing

We wanted to make colorful wind chimes out of this transparent glass. And the craftsmen at Tsuchiya Bag Manufacturing Co., Ltd. made this seemingly contradictory concept a reality. They made the "tanzaku" (strips of paper) that are essential for ringing the wind chimes out of colorful school bag parts.

Colorful school bags transformed into paper strips for wind chimes

The belt parts used were from school bags. The size and shape of these parts were perfect for the tanzaku! This was something only a production management member with in-depth knowledge of parts could notice. Furthermore, in order to produce high-quality school bags, this part was produced in excess, and without it, the wind chime tanzaku would not have been possible.