Japanese Traditional Culture

Noto Wind Chimes: High, clear tones for a refreshing feeling = Production at a rapid pace

Noto Wind Chimes = Click on the image to jump to the video page ((Provided by Jiji Press)

Wind chimes are a symbol of summer, with their delicate, gentle sounds that make you feel cool. With summer approaching, the Notojima Glass Workshop in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is ramping up production of "Noto Wind Chimes."

Noto wind chimes come in a variety of colors, including pink and green, and are characterized by their high, clear tone. They are sold at the workshop and online. The most popular is the blue "Noto Blue," which was created to resemble the color of the natural sea of Noto Island, which floats in Nanao Bay.

The windproofing is made of Noto Jofu, a high-quality hemp fabric that is a traditional intangible cultural property of Ishikawa Prefecture. The kasuri pattern creates a cool atmosphere.

The Noto Peninsula earthquake damaged the workshop's melting furnace and other equipment. Craftsman Masato Takahashi points out that "Many of the souvenir shops and facilities on Notojima are out of business, and tourists haven't returned." He hopes for a speedy recovery as he breathes life into the glass every day. "Each Noto wind chime has a different tone. I hope people will visit the island, touch the wind chimes, listen to their sounds, and find one they like."

What is Noto Jofu?
Noto Jofu is a hand-woven fabric made from hemp thread, and is considered one of the five great Jofu fabrics of Japan. It is characterized by a delicate kasuri pattern, and is light and breathable, with the distinctive crispness and smooth feel of hemp. It is said to have originated about 2,000 years ago when the daughter of Emperor Sujin taught weaving during her stay in the Naka-Noto region. In 1960, it was designated an intangible cultural property (handicraft technique) of Ishikawa Prefecture.