Wind Chime / Matsukasa (Pinecone) / No.002

Product Description : Why is it so EXPENSIVE?

Product Story

General Product Information

This is the only wind chime made of iron sand in Japan that has been in use for over 400 years.
It is characterized by its light, clear tone, and its price range varies depending on the tone. The rough surface of the cast iron is covered with a pattern of countless holes.
We hope you enjoy this one-of-a-kind item!

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：400 years ago / 1600AD / Edo period in Japan

It is said that the first wind chime was created and presented to the feudal lord in response to his request for a wind chime with a good tone. The rough surface of the cast metal is covered with a pattern of countless holes that look as if they have been bitten by insects. The manufacturing methods and techniques, including the blending of materials made from pig iron and iron sand, have been handed down from father to son and from generation to generation in the Eda family, and are a secret tradition that has never been handed down outside the family.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Kei Eda / Koundo
He was born as the 23rd head of the Eda family of foundries, he is the only domestic craftsman who produces iron sand wind chimes in Miyagi Prefecture. The technique, which has been used for over 400 years, is considered as a secret and has been passed down from one generation to the next, never to be seen outside the family. In the past, the wind chimes were purchased by the Japanese royal family, and their value as a craft is immeasurable.

 

Craftsman Passion

"No two things are ever made the same"
Each wind chime is made differently depending on the temperature and other environmental conditions of the day. Each wind chime has a different shape and tone, making it one-of-a-kind. We hope you will enjoy this product created by chance.

Achievement

Received the Japan Crafts Association East Japan Received Branch Director Award at the East Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
Received the Grand Prize at the Sano Renaissance Metal Casting Exhibition.
Received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Prize at the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinzoku Exhibition.
He has received many other awards for their work.

 

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

Width：4.5cm
Height：35cm
Depth：4.5cm
Weight：70g

Material & Caution

Materials

Iron

Caution

Individual Difference

Each piece is handmade, so there are individual differences even in the same series. We hope that you will understand the change by handmade.

Delivery Date

Please note that it will take about 1 month for delivery if we do not have the item in stock.

Tone might be changing

There is a possibility of changing the tone if a part of the product is chipped due to impact or drop.

  

Manufacturing Process

We have not uploaded this craftsman’s video yet, please discover another craftsman’s video from below link.

YouTube