Japanese bells in religion feature prominently, and there are a wide variety of sizes for the collector to enjoy. Suzu are particularly interesting, and are a round bell that hollow is and contains pellets. The suzu is an important bell in the Shinto faith, and it is therefore quite widespread.

To demonstrate just how widespread they are, one might consider the fact that Suzu is a woman’s name in Japanese, albeit an uncommon one, that refers to a bell or tin. Large suzu are often found at the entrances to Shinto shrines, while small handheld ones are often used as a part of Shinto worship. Suzu can also sometimes be found attached to omamori good luck charms.

The kane bell is shaped much like a dish, and hung from a bar while beat with a special mallet. These are used in Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies in the same manner that a gong might be. Similarly, the singing bowl is another representative of the family of Japanese bells in religion.

Though it may seem confusing, the singing bowl is sometimes also referred to as a suzu gong. It is a standing bell that is played from the rim or side. These are actually sometimes found in the west as tools for stress management, so collectors should beware of whether or not what they’re buying is original.

Nevertheless, the various types of Japanese bells in religion can be very worthwhile collectables. Armed with a little knowledge, anyone should be able to find something that suits his or her own particular tastes.