Public Poll chooses Shamisen!

General
#1

Greetings!
I noticed this on the Internet, the Anime News Networks column, “The List,” which apparently runs polls, periodically, to find what their readers are thinking. Their query, a week or so ago, asked what traditional Japanese art form, aside from anime and manga, the readers might wish to study.
I thought it was interesting that the largest number of responders selected shamisen! Cool! I’ve included the URL and the poll results, below.

Brett Hetrick
(Michigan, USA)

[ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2012-11-17 ]

“The old poll: Last week’s poll asked what traditional Japanese artform you’d like to study. Here’s the full results!”

Shamisen (Japanese three-stringed instrument) 23.0%
Calligraphy 17.1%
Origami 14.7%
Tea Ceremony 10.7%
Bonsai 10.3%
Yamato-e (traditional Japanese painting) 8.0%
Ikebana (Flower Arrangement) 6.4%
Waka (Japanese short poetry, such as haiku) 5.1%
Ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) 4.7%
#2

Yay! Maybe this means that more people will get into shamisen.

Truth be told, I’ve done everything on this list (except ikebana) :slight_smile:

#3

Wow, that’s interesting.

I think that number is going to grow, as shamisen gets more and more accessible. I do envision it getting more mainstream than it ever has before. Not so much as banjo or guitar, of course, but the percussive/melodic aspect is just so unique and captivating.

Cheers for posting your findings, Brett!

#4

Oh, come on. A random site and a poll for your-typical-anime-fan - a high school student, a a distinct type of consumer, which won’t do anything that takes time he/she could spend on videogames and anime. :trollface:

#5

Be that as it may, it is the younger, media-interested demographic that helped make the guitar the internationally popular musical instrument that it is, today. If a sizeable number of people are aware of the shamisen, in a positive way, and can identify with the idea of learning it, then a somewhat smaller number of people may maintain their interest and actually invest in the process, if instruments are available to them. That’s all it takes to start a snowball.
I remember how difficult it was to obtain a decent, playable guitar in the early 1960’s*, and how relatively expensive they were. (That musical instrument that sold for $150 USD in 1963 cost the 2012 equivalent of about $1100. That was about what it took to get a decent guitar in 1963, and it’s enough to get into “learner grade” shamisen, today.

So, we have awareness. All we need now is accessibility! Like Bachido! Like CDs and radio play for God of Shamisen, Yoshida Brothers, and other great bands!

Is a miracle too much to hope for?

Peace and blessings!

  • Yeah. I bought my first “decent” guitar in 1963, to replace the Del Oro table leg I’d been playing around with. Lost it in a fire around 1990. Damn!
#6

Oh yeah, it’s a safe assumption that most won’t. A poll shows what the person wants to do, but not necessarily have the motivation to do. For example, People might vote ‘losing weight’ in a “what’s your New Years resolution?” poll, but most probably won’t.

With that in mind, I think the beneficial part of the poll is seeing the trend. Whether or not there is motivation to actually learn, the fact that it’s #1 says a lot. :slight_smile:

And just wait until the new Monsters of Shamisen CD(s) are released! :stuck_out_tongue:

Masahiro and I were discussing the ASAP (Affordable Shamisen Awesomeness Project) last night. Let’s just say, the wheels are in motion. :wink: It will take time, legalities and other fun stuff, but it will happen.

I remember how difficult it was to obtain a decent, playable guitar in the early 1960’s*, and how relatively expensive they were. (That musical instrument that sold for $150 USD in 1963 cost the 2012 equivalent of about $1100.

Wow, I didn’t know inflation was that much. But yeah, as technology and manufacturing abroad has improved, making it possible to make guitars cheaper, it’s no wonder that made it possible for the instrument to be as global as it is. And now look at the rise of the ukulele!

Yeah. I bought my first “decent” guitar in 1963, to replace the Del Oro table leg I’d been playing around with. Lost it in a fire around 1990. Damn!

Oh no! Sorry to hear you lost the table leg in the fire. :frowning:
:stuck_out_tongue:

© 2020 Kyle Abbott