Ever wanted to see inside a shamisen? Well, now you can!
This is a very special instrument that was gifted to me by Japanese-American poet Amy Uyematsu. It belonged to her grandmother, who immigrated to the United States from Japan in the 1920’s or 30’s, and it is believed that she brought this shamisen over with her then. Somehow it survived the Japanese-American internment during WW2, and despite decades of hardship, aside from some broken skins it’s actually in really good shape! No one in the family plays shamisen anymore, so Amy wanted me to have it.
The carving inside, though, is really amazing. I’ve seen ayasugi before, but usually it’s just a simple zig zag pattern. This is the first time I’ve ever seen one like this, with decorative flowers and the character for “luck” mirrored on either side. It really is an incredible piece, and I feel very lucky to have it!
By the by, in case you were wondering, the sticker inside is an old notice recording its most recent repair. In April of the year 16 (what 16, it doesn’t say), Mr. or Ms. Ito had both skins replaced at Okano Instruments in Nihombashi, Tokyo. Unfortunately, it seems like this shop no longer exists, but you could try giving them a call, if you want. The number is 24-1432. … Wait, is that enough numbers?
