Shimatani Syouryu Koubou

Metalsmith

Kumekazu Shimatani, the representative of Shimatani Syouryu Koubou in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, is the third generation of the family business founded in 1909 and specialized in Buddhist singing bowls, or orin gongs, and hammered tin goods. They employ about ten specialized staff members. Yoshinori Shimatani, the fourth generation, first studied international politics and history in Tokyo and then went on to become a cook. In the end, he decided to follow the family tradition. He learned to make and tune orin gongs under his grandfather’s guidance for around seventeen years and founded the sub-brand Syouryu for hammered suzugami tin tableware in 2013.

Although the local craft, Takaoka dōki (Takaoka copperware and bronze casting), is the fruit of a 400-year tradition, today’s craftspeople are also interested in keeping up with the times. In addition to bronze casting, there are specialists for tinware and hammered metal products, such as the orin gongs.