LECTURE & DEMONSTRATION

ORIN: Japanese Traditional Singing Bowl

7:00 - 8:30PM, Friday, May 15, 2026
Murasaki Hall at the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
(5700 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 100, Los Angeles, CA 90036)

Please register HERE
Free, RSVP Required

Ancient times, there has been an "orin" that purifies the space and soothes the hearts of people.

Its beautiful sound is profound, and when one listens closely to its undulating melodies, they become gently enveloped in spreading ripples, both physically and spiritually, gently unwinding.

Forged from brass plates, shaped by numerous hammers, and finally infused with life, the "orin" is like a rising dragon guided to its appropriate undulations.

Its form, its sound, each possesses its own uniqueness.

An endless sea of sound stretches out, inviting encounters with harmonious echoes of the self.

- Shimatani Shouryu Studio

Yoshinori Shimatani, fourth-generation artisan of Shimatani Shouryu Studio will be introducing the craft of orin (Japanese singing bowls) using traditional metal-hammering techniques. 

Yoshinori SHIMATANI

1973: Born in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture
1996: Joined the Shimatani Shoryu Kobo
2009: Certified as a Traditional Craftsman of Takaoka Copperware, designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry
2013: Launched the in-house lifestyle brand “Syouryu”, utilizing metal-hammering techniques
2022: Developed a small orin and launched a new brand for general consumers

The sound of a finely tuned orin has a calming and centering effect, making it a versatile instrument used in meditation, yoga, sound baths, and healing practices. Its use has spread both within Japan and internationally, including in cities such as Paris, London, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong.

About SHIMATANI SHOURYU STUDIO

Shimatani Shouryu Studio was founded in 1909 (Meiji 42). Today, under the leadership of fourth-generation artisan Yoshinori Shimatani, the studio continues to craft orin (Japanese singing bowls) using traditional metal-hammering techniques, together with skilled craftsmen. Shoryu’s orin are shaped from a single sheet of brass, carefully formed by hammering. In the final stage, their distinctive sound is refined through a tuning process that has been passed down as a closely guarded tradition, resulting in their unique, resonant tones. In 2013, the studio also introduced “Suzugami,” a series of plates created using the same metalworking techniques, which have since been embraced by a wide audience.

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