Back to the Wind Bell Market

One year has passed and the Furin-ichi (wind bell market) at the Kawasaki Daishi has come round again. Since we liked it last year, and with the excuse to buy Japanese wind chimes for our families, we could not miss it this year, either. The heat was somewhat overwhelming. Luckily, chilled tea is given out for free, and with every purchase, you also receive a fan.

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The Windbell Market

As first-hand experience is teaching us, the Japanese summer is very hot and thanks to the high humidity, very stuffy. Any breeze is most welcome.
To provide psychological relief, wind bells (風鈴, furin) are hung next to windows or under the eaves of houses to mark the passing of a refreshing breeze. These bells are mostly made from glass or iron with a paper strip to catch the wind attached to its clapper with a string.
We had already purchased some wind-bells along the way, a pig-shaped one on our very first visit to Asakusa, and an iron “three harmony” in Kyoto. So we were very sympathetic to the idea of visiting the famous wind bell market in Kawasaki which is taking place these days.

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