Otomorin Yu

Otomorin Yū is a portable orin bell, made so that you can keep it close at hand and enjoy its sound whenever you like. The striker is made of natural crystal, giving the bell a crystal-clear tone and a rich, lingering resonance. That tone is designed to follow the "1/f fluctuation" said to echo the rhythms of the natural world.

The musician Ryuichi Sakamoto was introduced in the March 2023 issue of "Fujin Gaho" as having brought one such orin into his hospital room during his illness. Pausing in an unguarded moment to listen closely to a sound — that way of using it speaks to many people's daily lives.

Four color combinations are available, pairing a gold-leaf or jet-black body with a blue or pink rin cushion. The gold finish offers a bright, refined luster, while the jet black creates a calm, composed presence, so you can choose to suit the recipient or the setting.

The bell itself is made of copper alloy, carefully finished one piece at a time using the techniques of Takaoka copperware handed down in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture; it is this craftsmanship that gives rise to the clear tone and lingering resonance. The cloth pouch is made of cotton and polyester and serves a second role as the rin cushion.

For a light moment of meditation — eyes gently closed, listening to a pure tone. As a doorbell at the entrance or on a counter, as a marker between work or household tasks, as a way to shift your mindset before an exam, to unwind before bed or to wake to in the morning. Or as a charm to settle the heart while traveling — it accompanies you through all kinds of moments in daily life.