Tracing the history of Nanjo Workshop back, the oldest recorded piece is a hayashigane (festival gong) crafted by the first-generation founder, Kanzaburo Nanjo, in 1839 (Tenpō 10). This piece is currently preserved by the Ofunehoko Preservation Society. At that time, Kyoto’s casting industry was thriving, and the first-generation workshop produced bells and orin (ritual singing bowls) for shrines and temples.

During Japan’s period of rapid economic growth, demand for household Buddhist altars surged, which in turn brought requests for mass-produced orin. However, the fifth-generation head, deeply committed to traditional techniques and the pursuit of sound quality, refused to produce mass-market orin, resulting in a period when the workshop ceased making sound instruments. It was only when the current sixth-generation head joined the family business that the production of traditional orin and other instruments was resumed. Around this time, the workshop moved its base from Fushimi to Uji.

The brand LinNe, launched in 2019, was created out of a desire to bring the sound of sahari orin closer to everyday life. Traditionally associated with Buddhist rituals and solemnity, the company’s orin were given a delightful makeover, adorned with decorative kumihimo braids. Gentle movement produces a beautifully sustained resonance, and their compact size allows them to be carried with ease, enabling people to enjoy moments of richness in many daily scenes.

Though orin were originally made with Buddhist ritual use in mind, the new LinNe line intentionally leaves usage unrestricted, encouraging people to discover their own ways of enjoying the sound. This brand development is supported by extensive customer feedback. Applications range from yoga and meditation, to relaxation during short breaks, or even as a bear bell when hiking. From their expertise in tuning temple orin, new uses such as tuning for musical scales have also emerged. Workshops have even been held where participants could sample the sound digitally on tablets, using tones recorded from the orin.

The alloy used in Nanjo Workshop’s orin is called sahari, a type of bronze with a high tin content mixed into copper. This ancient alloy was once used in treasures preserved in the Shosoin Imperial Repository. The fifth-generation head, driven by research and experimentation, developed a unique blend that ultimately produced today’s signature orin: a clearer sound with a pleasantly lingering resonance.

To let people experience LinNe firsthand, Nanjo Workshop established the factory shop LinNe STUDIO next to the workshop. By reservation, visitors can test the sounds themselves and observe processing up close at an adjoining viewing booth. The space welcomes not only Japanese visitors but also overseas tour groups, serving as both a product experience and a hub for sharing traditional craft with the world.

Every LinNe is subject to rigorous final sound inspections to ensure the pursuit of an ideal tone. Despite being an almost 200-year-old establishment, Nanjo Workshop goes beyond the conventional boundaries of a Buddhist altar craft shop. While preserving uncompromising quality, they actively seek encounters both in Japan and abroad. This approach has borne fruit: within just four years of launching, LinNe has held multiple pop-up events at major department stores and realized collaborations across various industries. Even though orin are not essential daily goods, the way the brand naturally appeals to hidden modern needs suggests a bright, sustained future—much like the clear, expansive tones of the orin itself.

Our interview on this occasion was graciously granted by Mr. Kazuya Nanjo (next in line as the 7th generation). During the interview, the clear chime of the orin was heard several times from nowhere in particular. As it turned out, Mr. Nanjo had set the sound of LinNe as the ringtone on his mobile phone, ringing whenever he received a call or email. With a smile, he told us during a break, “It sounds much better live, of course (laughs).” It was a charming glimpse of his deep affection for the products of his own workshop.