Is there a Shamisen "backpack" ?

General
#1

Hey everyone!

Sorry i’ve been out of touch. I’m still taking my monthly Shamisen lessons and it’s going great. I think my musical ear is excelling me a little, my teaching isn’t slowing down and keeping me moving forward in my class book. Playing technique needs a bit of work, but it is difficult to do everything correctly with only monthly corrections. :stuck_out_tongue: Ah well I do my best and seem to get it a bit more right each time I go to class.

Anyway, I still have my rental Shamisen, and I was wondering if there is a backpack style carrier for a Shamisen. I’m not a big fan of the leather bag mine has which just has a simple carrying handle. Mind you it’s not my Shamisen but I can’t see myself using such a bag in the future.

I would love a simple padded cover/bag with backpack straps so the Shamisen can sit on my back, and if possible with some pockets for the essentials (music book, bachi, extra strings, yubikake, koma, etc)

Does such a thing exist for a Shamisen? Has anyone seen or heard of one? I have a feeling i’ll have to DIY one but I thought it coulden’t hurt to ask first!

#2

http://bachido.com/products/cases-and-fukuro

Check the “Pack Case”. It has straps so that you can carry it like a backpack and there’s a video that you can check out.

#3

Yes yes yes! The pack case! Check that link from Karl and scroll down to the video example, I just want to say. I could never ever ever in a million years imagine life without my “Backpack Shamisen case!” the first four or five years I played Shamisen I didn’t have it and my life was a constant nightmare of soar arms, soar shoulders and skin peeling off my hands from carrying my Shamisen case around everywhere. After I got that pack case a tremendous weight was lifted from me…LITERALLY !
Definately recommend it for your future, Evyn!

#4

Kevin,I’m actually making an accessory box for sanshin and shamisen accessories,talking about mitsuori case,do you think a 30x20x4 cm box fits in it.

#5

You have a rental Shamisen? That’s a great idea! Anyone know if there is anywhere to rent a Shamisen in England? I’m dying to learn but it seems I am far from having a Shamisen of my own. It’s so frustrating finally having an interest in an instrument only to then find it unobtainable!

#6

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Silly me I should have just popped into the store to check before posting!

Yes a rental shamisen is a great option until you can afford your own. But im lucky because I’m in Japan and my teacher has a couple to lend for a fee. She also said she would help me buy a used one in the future. I feel so lucky!

#7

Shinjuku,
Not sure if that would fit. Technically it should but the dimensions you describe might be slightly large for a mituori case as everything is sort of srunched up into it. A large regular case should have enough room. For example the pack case has lots of empty spaces around where the Shami lies.

#8

Oh how I hate the damn auto spell check. My iPad decided that your name is shinjuku instead of Shinji. I know I can edit it but sometimes I just leave it as a way to expose the stupidity of spell check !

#9

LOL I was wondering where the random “shinjuku” came from lol
I had to go back and re-read the whole post and still couldn’t figure it out haha.

#10

Oh how I hate the damn auto spell check. My iPad decided that your name is shinjuku instead of Shinji. I know I can edit it but sometimes I just leave it as a way to expose the stupidity of spell check !

XD My uncle is visiting Tokyo at this moment,he may be passing by Shinjuku

#11

I got a nice red pleather one while I was in Osaka. They’re super!

#12

Forgot to mention what I had. It’s an actual backpack for the shamisen. It’s a soft case shaped like the shamisen with soft foam padding on the inside and and outside pocket. The case fits snuggly against your back and it’s as light as your shamisen. The case was designed for students who commuted via bikes. They usually have a more fabric type case. I just got the new design which was in pleather. I should think that any shamisen shop in Tokyo would have it…

#13

Yes yes yes! The pack case! Check that link from Karl and scroll down to the video example, I just want to say. I could never ever ever in a million years imagine life without my “Backpack Shamisen case!” the first four or five years I played Shamisen I didn’t have it and my life was a constant nightmare of soar arms, soar shoulders and skin peeling off my hands from carrying my Shamisen case around everywhere. After I got that pack case a tremendous weight was lifted from me…LITERALLY !
Definately recommend it for your future, Evyn!

I second this completely. I remember walking around all over Japan with Kevin and we were just lugging our old hard cases around. Once we discovered the hard pack cases, our lives changed forever!

© 2020 Kyle Abbott