For many years KYUJO did not provide online sound fragments of their bells as they recommend you to hear them in real life for the best experience! To reach a younger audience, as well as enthusiasts from abroad, they now created videos demonstrating the beautiful, warm sounds made with minimal effort.
"Sound that reaches far and wide"
The sound of Japanese Orin bells is very unique. It is the warm, long and reaching sounds used during praying, heard in temples and traditional celebrations.
For Japanese people this sound has a sense of nostalgia, but it is said that this sound will resonate and comfort people regardless of their background or experience with orin. The orin's ringing is believed to chase away bad vibes and purify the space it is in.
KYUJO has specialized in the sound of Orin for many years, specializing in Buddhist altars and ornaments.
To help reach as many people as possible with this beautiful, comforting sound, they started to product decorations and table bells used in modern Western and Japanese homes, regardless of religion or interior.
Their modern bells have warm colors and designs that even with their looks alone will enhance the feel of any room. To spread the beautiful Orin tones you can carefully strike or wedge them to enjoy a moment of peace in this busy life.
In Japan, the Kyujo Orin can be heard through school bells, the train departure melody at some stations, or the music played when being put on hold on the phone.
Kyujo's crafts can be divided into three categories.
Home decoration items include wind- and table bells, with traditional and modern designs.
Prayer items are bells traditionally used for praying and can be gifted as a sign of gratitude.
Altar items and sets include bells, ornaments and keepsake urns.
Kyujo Orin sounds have “1/f fluctuation” which induces alpha brain waves that generate a feeling of comfort. Analysis by Japan Acoustic Lab has shown that there is a healing effect in this special sound.
Even when the bells are shaped the same, each bell is carefully tuned and can create a completely different sound fitting the environment and purpose for which it is used.
Kyujo Casting
The mold is made, metal (brass) is melted, and poured in.
Roughly shaved by machine, then skillfully cut into shape by hand.
Polish with high-speed rotating feather cloth that acts as file.
Engraving on curved surfaces is complex and requires delicate programming and craftsmanship.
Decorations to lacquerware is a technique from Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture
Finally, all the delicate parts, they can be assembled by hand and the final bell completed.
The first steps of crafting requires a lot of strength and reaches very high temperatures. The shaving, polishing and encraving need to be done very carefully and require a high skill level by experienced craftsmen. The decorations by hand require a special technique and are essential for a perfect finish of the carefully crafted base. The entire process requires many steps and the know-how and artistic insight.
