I found this writing in my used doukake. For some reason Google translate didn’t pick it up, so I couldn’t translate it. Can anyone read it? I’m guessing it’s a name
Howdy.
That is 東地唄! It is a doukake for Jiuta shamisen that doesn’t use a strap, and instead is tightly fitted to the instrument.
It should be roughly the same size as a standard 1分５厘大 doukake.
Cheers.
Thank you! To be honest, I’m a bit surprised, since this is a futozao shamisen for tsugaru, officially
Oh?
Where did you get the instrument?
Shamisen doukake often fit a few different dou sizes, but the gap between the two primary jiuta sizes and a full size tsugaru is pretty substantial.
So it’s possible that you’ve got a nicely stretched in doukake, my data is incomplete, or your shamisen was mislabeled.
I got it from Tsugaru Shamisen Set | Chiharu - Shami-Shop this is it
The full length is about 105cm, the dou is about 20x19cm
Do you think anything might be amiss?
Data
Here is the data I have for shamisen dou. The measurement is taken at the center point and includes only the flat top of the skinning - not the rounded, finished curve of the wall. These values come from Kameya and Tokyo Wagakki.
| Dou Size | English | Shaku | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 二番 | Niban | 6寸ｘ５寸４分 | 18.1818 x 16.3636 |
| 名古屋 | Nagoya | 6寸3分 x 5寸65分 | 19.0909 x 17.1212 |
| 長唄 | Nagauta | 6寸5分 x 5寸9分 | 19.6969 x 17.8787 |
| 五厘大 | Go Rin Dai | 6寸5分5厘 x 5寸9分5厘 | 19.8484 x 18.0303 |
| 一分大 | Ichi Bu Dai | 6寸6分 x 6寸0分 | 20.0000 x 18.1818 |
| 一分五厘大 | Ichi Bu Go Rin Dai | 6寸6分5厘 x 6寸0分5厘 | 20.1515 x 18.3333 |
| 二分大 | Ni Bu Dai | 6寸7分 x 6寸1分 | 20.3030 x 18.4848 |
| 三分大 | San Bu Dai | 6寸8分 x 6寸2分 | 20.6060 x 18.7878 |
| 四分大 | Yon Bu Dai | 6寸9分 x 6寸3分 | 20.9090 x 19.0909 |
| 五分大 | Go Bu Dai | 7寸0分 x 6寸4分 | 21.2121 x 19.3939 |
| 六分大 | Roku Bu Dai | 7寸1分 x 6寸5分 | 21.5151 x 19.6969 |
| 七分大 | Nana Bu Dai | 7寸2分 x 6寸6分 | 21.8181 x 19.99999 |
Be aware that these are “ideal” values, and may not be perfectly accurate to every instrument (tolerances and all that!). Moreover, shamisen with older dou may have even more atypical sizes, either due to multiple reskinnings, less precise craftsmenship, regional variation, or version transition.
On Standards
The standard for tsugaru is Go Bu Dai (or 21.2121 x 19.3939 at the center of the dou, measuring only the flat surface). Some professionals go larger to a Roku or Nana. Some players with different needs scale back to a Yon Bu Dai. This reduction is typically associated with women, but its not universal. As for smaller instruments: I have not personally encountered a San Bu Dai claiming to be Tsugaru.
However, it would not surprise me to find one some day; given that min’yo expressly scale up to Ni Bu Dai.
In specific
As for your instrument in specific:
The listing on shami-shop states that the fingerboard near the chiibukuro is 28.75 mm. This is just over the old school demarcation between Chuu and Futozao. If you measured the body correctly, it likely is not a Go Bu Dai, which should clock in at just over 21 x 19. It is more likely a smaller body class, but if you care to know exactly which you need to measure carefully.
Note that hibiki adds a little heft to the measurement, which you must adjust for.
Thank you for the reply! It shows that I still have much to learn, I had no idea that dou sizes were this specific!
Honestly, the smaller size was almond the reasons why I chose specific piece, since I have pretty small hands and would struggle otherwise 