Kazuya Nanjo

Bellfounder

©Masuhiro Machida

Shaping sound

Kazuya creates contemporary hand bells to fit the modern lifestyle
Sahari produces extremely clear, beautiful, and soothing sounds
Sahari bells were originally made for Buddhist and Shintoist rituals

Kazuya Nanjo's Sahari hand bells have a distinctive, crystal-clear sound like no other. An alloy of copper and tin, they have long been used to create bells for religious rituals. Kazuya uses a formula passed on for 190 years by the Nanjyo Atelier to create handmade bells. They are the only atelier in Japan that uses the traditional metal casting process of baking with firewood. With his modern sensibility, Kazuya started LinNe in 2019, an original collection of modern hand bells, designed for use in daily rituals such as meditation or yoga, or simply as a mind-clearing chime. Collaborating with sound artists and contemporary brands, Kazuya innovates tradition by expanding the concept of how to integrate the pure, relaxing sounds of the Sahari hand bells into modern life.

Interview

©Masuhiro Machida

©Masuhiro Machida

What was your first impression of the craft?: I used to work as a chef, but the first time I heard the Sahari bells at the Nanjyo atelier, its clear, yet powerful tone and the beautiful reverberation stole my heart. So I joined the family lineage of my wife and started working under the sixth generation master Kanzaburo Nanjyo.
Did you apprentice under a master?: Yes, I’m still working under Kanzaburo Nanjyo VI. The atelier has two divisions so I have two masters. I learned metal casting, manual rotor processing and lathework from Nanjyo and mould-making, mould-baking, polishing, rotary processing, and finishing from Yoshihiro Terashima.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: I use traditional materials, blending ratio and manufacturing processes to preserve the charm of the unique Sahari bell tones. At the same time, I create contemporary designs for the modern aesthetic so that the charming tones can be enjoyed more casually.
What do you seek to communicate to the world?: Sahari bells often sound nostalgic, heartfelt and refreshing. Every person has a different way to perceive the vibrations. I believe that discovering one’s favourite tone and taking a moment to ring the bell every day can become an enriching experience.

Kazuya Nanjo is a master artisan: he began his career in 2003 and he started teaching in 2012