Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture Laoshi Works is said to be the exclusive producer of Buddhist bells in Japan. A craftsman putting the finishing touches on a bell that has been removed from the mold.

Takaoka City in Toyama Prefecture is a town of copperware and lacquerware. As the birthplace of casting, Takaoka City has been producing copper products such as Buddhist bells, ornaments for interior decoration, and commemorative items, accounting for 90% of the national market share. The city's economic boom in the past has been replaced by a sharp decline in orders due to fuel shortages and high prices caused by the oil crisis, and the outlook for this year is bleak. With the recession and the lack of successors, Takaoka City is now struggling to keep the tradition of copperware alive. The Laoshi Works is said to be the sole producer of temple bells in Japan. A mold maker carves letters and patterns into a mold for a Buddhist bell. After the bell is removed from the mold, the craftsmen put the finishing touches on the bell. The detail of the work is acquired through experience, and is truly a divine work. Photo by Azuma Yasuo, Mainichi Graph, January 27, 1974. Cut from Mainichi Graph, January 27, 1974, p. 77