I did Kyle’s suggestion for traveling with your shamisen via airplane. Sure enough, they made me check the case but I already had my parts bubble-wrapped, and the dou was in my carry-on. Though I have one particularly old skin, both skins are still attached despite the massive change in temperature and humidity. Yay!
I wanted to upload a pic, but it turned out dark. And I have never used Imgur. I’ll try to upload again later. 
Thanks Kyle!
Why did they need to inspect the case?
I think I will put all my parts in my backpack next year and then buy a soft case in Japan.
Hope the skin holds in the warmth!
I’ve come to the conclusion that LAX is full of paranoid TSA agents who do nothing but make lives miserable. Other than the presence of 2 electronic devices, this is the only reason I can think of that they felt the need to inspect the case. Narita didn’t bother, though, so I’m still leaning towards the paranoid TSA theory. LAX also didn’t bother to nicely place my case on top of the luggage, or keep it out of the carrousel, despite the large label that Narita’s kind workers put on the case for me.
Considering my rather miserable experience there (and counting all past miserable experiences at LAX) I will be taking any other airport for all future travels, with or without the shamisen. But I’m glad it wasn’t worse.
It’s going to be WAYYY worse now after last Friday. 
And Terminal 3 is the very terminal that my husband and I always travel out of, too, since we fly Virgin whenever we can. This isn’t good. I’m going to D.C. again in March, and I’d really like to take my shamisen with me. 
Of course, their security measures are always a bit like, “Let’s close the barn door after the horse is gone.”
Read this, this pertains to all of us with delicate musical instruments. According to this, they HAVE to let us carry on our instruments, if there is room.
Carry Your Instrument On The Plane - It's The LAW - Ari's Take
Here is the TSA Policy on carrying instruments on planes …
Oh snap, this is very good to know. I will be going through LAX in a few weeks. I better put my bachi in the check in bag.
How is virgin, Lorraine? I’m going to Florida on Virgin the first time.
Glad your shamisen survived the trip, K2! 
Virgin is the BEST airline! We fly it whenever we can, although, they don’t fly everywhere, so sometimes we have to fly the others (I refer to Delta as Purgatory Air). Virgin has the nicest and newest airplanes, and all the latest technology.
Kyle, read those links above, they directly pertain to you, and to any other musicians who fly with delicate instruments.
Have a great trip! I wish I could go see you! I was a fan of Ronin before I ever started playing shamisen. If you can get video, that would be so awesome.
Howdy howdy! At LAX for another hour. Security check was all good. They scanned the case for a long time, then pulled it out to brush over with the pads, but 30 seconds later, gave it back! Didn’t even take anything out! This was at San Jose, not sure what would’ve happened if I got in at LAX. Anywho, all good!
And wow, you weren’t joking about the BEST airline. It was very novel to see. It felt so first class! Leather seats, purple lights, plasticy. It really felt posh.
Well, time to walk around and maybe get a little bite to eat.
Very cool! I will tell them that! I think there will be video, and of course I will take pictures.
Thank you, looking forward to living vicariously through you. 