I found this in google image search for shamisen but this has a paper skin. Surprising how tsugaru techniques work on paper and makes me think of skinning a shamisen like this. If I could find out more about it. Maybe hemp paper? The Velum paper I used in art school was wet then stretched and quite thick.
I like how it is described as “paper” in the store article 
Ok, joking aside, I was thinking about using paper too (just not on a tsugaru). Would a coating of pva or some sort of gesso make it less susceptible to tearing under the bachi? 
Aahh, the good old days, stretching your drawing paper and building your own canvases…
Gesso is some tough stuff. I used to texture my canvases by mixing oatmeal or flour into the gesso. It was rock hard.
I have been checking out Ebay and other links to Yupo paper as kits for Chinton or Do It Yourself paper shamisens seem cool as well as the newer Shamiko lantern shamisens…
A photo to chintons with yupo paper logo and link to Yupo art paper attached. Anyone with Shamiko kits or DIY? …My curiousity is all ears and eyes for any thoughts or your project!!
