Shimatani Shoryu Kobo, founded in 1909 in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, is a manufacturer of Buddhist bells.
Yoshinori Shimatani, the fourth-generation president, has launched his own brand, "syouryu," utilizing the techniques he has cultivated over more than 100 years of making bells.
And therein lies Shimatani's strong resolve, which had emerged after overcoming deep conflict.
Face the conflict head-on
Shimatani was born as the eldest son of Shimatani Shoryu Kobo, a family business that has continued for generations.
"Ever since I was little, my relatives and grandparents would tell me, 'You're going to take over,' but I never felt like I wanted to take over the business."
The reason was very simple and straightforward.
"I knew that if I did it reluctantly, it wouldn't work out. Also, if I was going to take over because I was the eldest son, then I thought it didn't matter if it was me, as long as I was born as the eldest son into the Shimatani family. So when I was young, I always wondered what the meaning of my birth was."
After graduating from high school, he left his hometown to avoid taking over the family business and went to university in Tokyo.
"I didn't want to go back to my parents' house until I was sure that this was what I wanted to do. So after graduating from university, I worked as a chef for a while."
However, a turning point comes.
"One morning, I was walking home after drinking with my colleagues after work when I got into a conversation with an older woman who was picking up trash. For some reason, I started talking about myself and my family business. She said to me, 'It's amazing that you were born into a family that makes Buddhist tools.' I'd grown up in an environment where that was the norm, so I'd never thought of myself or my family business in that way."
This incident prompted Shimatani to apologize to his parents, return home, and take over the family business.
Figure out what you need to do
After a long and deep period of conflict, Shimatani joined Shimatani Shoryu Kobo.
"At the time, there were only seven companies in Japan, including ours, that could make the Buddhist bell. This is a skill that has supported Japanese Buddhist culture, so I thought it would be a shame to let the company go under in my generation."
I felt that Shimatani herself had discovered something that she wanted to accomplish.
"After joining the company, I worked from early in the morning until late at night. In the end, it took me 12 years to be able to make orin that produced a good sound."
The techniques of Shimatani Shoryu Kobo have been passed down over many years, and once lost, they are not easily regained.
"Our company is very particular about the quality of the sound. If we can't get a sound that's close to 100%, even if the Eorin is already complete, we'll start over from scratch."
Why are they so particular about the quality of "sound"?
"We value the trust we have from our customers. If we were to produce something below Shimatani Shoryu Kobo's quality even just once, we would lose that trust. That's why we make sure to do everything carefully, from the basic steps onwards, to ensure quality."
However, it was not possible to resist the flow of time, and in 2013, when business became tough, the "syouryu" was developed to break through the situation.
The beauty and warmth of handcrafted items
Syouryu's Suzugami is a plate made by hand hammering tin.
"We make them using a technique called hammering, which makes the metal stronger. If we don't hammer with the same amount of force, the thickness will change, so it's difficult."
The patterns on the tin paper that were created after hammering are neatly arranged vertically and horizontally, and these patterns enhance the beauty of the appearance.
When I visited the workshop, I was allowed to actually try hammering the drums, but even an amateur like me couldn't have done it as well. I was impressed by the incredible handiwork of the sophisticated craftsmen.
"I think that most of the dishes in our homes are machine-made industrial products. But if there are handmade dishes among them, they convey a sense of warmth and I think that they can make our daily lives richer."
Syouryu's Suzugami is made with such attention to detail and skill.
At the heart of Shimatani Shoryu Kobo's craftsmanship lies his struggle to confront the meaning of his birth and his determination to preserve the techniques that have supported culture.
