Before the arrival of summer, wind chimes are actively made in the workshop of the traditional craft "Izushiyaki" in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture.
In Izushi-cho, Toyooka City, white porcelain "Izushi-yaki" has been made from locally harvested stones since the late Edo period, and now four kilns have inherited the tradition.
At Hitoshi Nagasawa's workshop in the center of town, wind chimes are made every year at this time of year before summer in order to incorporate Izushi-yaki into their daily lives.
On the 4th, craftsmen poured clay dissolved in water into a mold to make a prototype of a wind chime. Then, on unglazed pale brown wind chimes, Mr. Nagasawa carefully painted the figure of young ayu swimming in the river with dark blue pigment one by one.
After this, if you apply glaze and bake it for one day at a high temperature of nearly 1300 degrees, the characteristic whiteness of Izushi ware will stand out, and a dark blue pattern will emerge.
Mr. Nagasawa said, "This summer is coming hot, but I want you to feel as cool as possible by listening to the sound of wind chimes."
Wind chimes are made until early July and are sold in workshops and local souvenir shops.