The bell was presented as a gift to the people of Seattle by the people of Kobe, Japan, in commemoration of the 1962 Seattle World's Fair and Kobe's status as Seattle's first sister city.

It is made of ornamented bronze and housed inside a wooden shōrō.

It contains a dedication written in both Japanese and English:[1][2] "Presented by the People of Kobe to the People of Seattle as a Symbol of Friendship.

May this bell ring forever signifying friendship between the nations of the United States and Japan."

The bell is recognized as a Seattle Historic Site.