1. きっかけは風鈴から
Wind-Bells as a Trigger
2016年８月、大塚製作所の元に「一般の方へ技能を紹介する展示会」への出展依頼がありました。しかし大塚製作所が作っているものは「治工具」というものであり、一般の方が見てもその技術や使い道は全くわかりません。そこで簡単に作ることができて一般の方が見てもわかるものを、ということで風鈴を作ることにしました。普通風鈴はひも等でぶら下げる形ですが、「スタンド形のもの
It was in August 2016 when Otsuka Facotry got an invitation to the exhibition to show and introduce their industrial skills and techniques to the general public. Since their factory produces jigs and fixtures for machineries, which might not attract the general public, they came up with the idea of making wind-bells. Visitors could immediately know what it is and the manufacturer could show their highly precise techniques in a pleasant manner. Although Japanese wind-bells are commonly hung with straps from the eaves of roofs or windows, they reconsidered this tradition from a different angle and the idea of inventing the first standing type wind-bell appeared, which became later the RIN.
2. 余っていた銅合金を削ってみると…
Leftover Copper Alloy Turned Into a Bell
なんとなく思いつくままに削り叩いてみると、その音色はとても澄んでいて綺麗なものでした。この音からイメージされてこの鐘を凜（RIN）と名付けられました。
To make this idea come true, after finishing daily work at the factory, we decided to use the leftover copper and made a prototype one night. The sound of this prototype was really clear and unforgettably beautiful. We named our first bell “RIN”.
3. これで音階にできない？
Can These Bells Make a Harmony?
この音色で音階ができたら、綺麗なハーモニーを奏でられるでは？製作担当の旋盤マイスター２人の苦悩の日々が始まりました。
But they had another, second idea: Could they make a musical scale with these bells and make a harmony? Their two lathe masters started working very hard to realize this ambitious project.
4. 削っては鳴らし、削っては鳴らし…
Lathed-Rang, Lathed-Rang
いくつも寸法を変えながら削ってみると、ある傾向で音階になることがわかってきました。倍音が多いため正確に調音することも困難でした。最終的な調整のための切り込み量は0.01mm以下！マイスターの腕の見せどころです。
By changing the diameter of the bells, we eventually found a way to make a musical scale. Things were developing rapidly but balancing the delicate harmonic overtones and precise tuning was extremely challenging for us. The margin of errorof the final model is less than 0.01 mm. Only the true masters can achieve this precision.
5. ついに１オクターブセットが完成！
Finally an Octave Set Completed !
風鈴の製作開始から２ヶ月後、通常業務の合間を縫いながらついに完成。ドレミファソラシド♫がこんなにも綺麗に響き渡るのかと、感動したことを今でも覚えています。
After two months of trial and error for the wind-bell project running beside the regular work, we could finally produce the first octave set of the bells. All of them were so moved to hear the first octave ring: unmatched clear tones made a brilliant harmony.
6. ２オクターブ目に挑戦！
The Second Octave, the Second Challenge,
１オクターブセットでは演奏できる曲は限られてしまうので、もう１オクターブ低いセットの製作を開始。どんな楽器もそうですが、低い音を出すには太く大きくする必要があり、加工も困難になってきます。しかし、マイスター達はやはり通常業務の合間を縫いながら２週間ほどで完成させました。
Our next challenge was to make a complementary lower octave. Only one octave would severely limit the pieces of music, which can be played with. As physics dictate, a lower-pitched tone needs a physically wider and bigger body, which opposed new challenges upon the lathe masters. In another two weeks, however, they could finally succeed.
7. インテリア、自動演奏機、MIDIキーボード
As Interior, Auto Playing Bell Set, MIDI Keyboard
凜（RIN）はシンプルなデザインで美しいので、インテリアとしても楽しめます。またMIDIキーボードによりピアノを弾く感覚で演奏したり、自動演奏させて楽しむことができます。
Since RIN has a very simple and beautiful design, it fits into the living room of any home. By connecting it to a MIDI keyboard, you can enjoy the RIN like you play the piano or just let it play automatically.
8. ドアベル、呼び鈴、etc…
Future Ideas: Door and Entrance Bells
更にサイズを小さくしたかわいらしいミニバージョン、うるさすぎず心地よい音色のドアベルやホテルでの呼び鈴など、凜（RIN）の鐘を活かした商品開発を今後も進めていきます。
The smaller sized bell, which is pretty and portable, has been under development. They can easily be used for doors, like an entrance bell at a hotel or at a private residence, generating a luxurious atmosphere by Japanese aesthetics. They keep developing new, unique and beautiful products based on RIN, using their Japanese craftsmen’s precise technics.