For the first time in history (I’m pretty sure), professional shamisen hardware (like azuma sawari) is available to shamisen enthusiasts! Check it out here! - http://bachido.com/products/hardware-parts
More parts will come. 
We may also stock karin wood in the near future.
I’m not planning on building an instrument right now but I feel all warm inside when I see this. I can imagine that there are quite a few people who have an interest in wood working but don’t really have any experience in molding metal and this kind of thing will make it possible for more people to do this. Also, if they get their hands on a used shamisen without the sawari they can now add it or ask a luthier to do it for them provided they have purchased these products first. Great stuff.
Is Kouki lumber import prohibited?
Karl: If there’s one thing that shows the shift in the accessibility of shamisen, I would say it’s now that the common person can actually order an azuma sawari. I mean, though difficult, it was still possible to get a shamisen. But only a year ago, it was almost impossible for most people outside of the shamisen world to get hardware. I’m pretty excited that this is possible, and the trend that it sets.
And yes! If somebody gets a sawari-less shamisen on the cheap, now they can get one installed on their own! (Or even install it in some custom instrument)
Shinji: It depends on location. I believe it is illegal to import into the US. I’ll talk with Masahiro about that.
If you’re a Guild of American Luthiers member, you should read their information about CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and the Lacey Act:
If you’re not a GAL member, you should read it anyway. Either way, you should take this very seriously if you’re planning to sell any “Fauna and Flora” products. The US government seems bent on making examples of big companies such as Gibson Guitars, but the little guys may be harder hit because the “proof of compliance” cost is prohibitive.
For wood, you might consider a collaboration with a company such as MacBeath Hardwood in Berkeley CA, or Gilmer Wood Co. in Portland OR.
I ordered the African padouk for my shamisen #2 from exoticwoodsoftheworld.com.
yeah this is awesome don’t know yet if I could employ some of those or future parts in future kankaras but definitely for those brave souls who actually try to build a full featured real shamisen I figure this is definitely a great resource . . .
Dan: Thanks for the link. I should definitely examine that before getting into lumber sales 'n such.
Yes! On that note, I was talking with Nitta san about manufacturing the CNC shamisen. He was thinking karin could be used, but because it is getting endangered, it’s just gonna raise in price (legalities wouldn’t be a problem if made in Japan). I then suggested padauk, and when I told him your shamisen was made from it, he got excited and was all for it!
I’m not sure where he’s gonna get it from, but I’m sure padauk is available in Japan.
Things are a-changin’ Kyle!
Such new and exciting steps are being taken with the availability of shamisen, it’s remarkable!
I remember when you first sent me on the mission in Japan to acquire a sawari so you could reverse engineer it, Abbott style.
Hehe, how far things have come! Who could have known?
So stoked.