The University of British Columbia was honoured early in 1983
by the gift of a Japanese Bell cast by Master Craftsman Masahiko Katori.
The Pacific Bell, given to UBC, was Mr. Katori's 105th.
The bell is inscribed with five characters which may be translated as,
"a clear mind leads to tranquil thoughts."

The Pacific Bell is housed in this traditional
Japanese bell tower crafted of yellow cedar.

The design of the Pacific Bell Tower dates back more than
800 years to the Kamakura Period. Pre-fabricated in Japan
and re-assembled here, the structure--with the exception of
the eaves and the roof--is held together without a single nail.
A ceramic tile roof was chosen over shingle or wooden roofs for
reasons of resonance. The same type of bell tower, but on a
larger scale, can be found at Kofukuji Temple in Nara,
as well as at other temples in Japan.