I’ve used the shinobi koma for jiuta style. It works better than other methods because it doesn’t silence or change the tone of the strings but still reduces the volume 90%.
For tsugaru style I noticed that Kameya has just put up a special shinobi koma for tsugaru style. It is a completely different design and looks like it would cushion the skin strike too.
It’s toward the middle of the page.
Hey Grant, I think what you saw in Kanagi was a shinobi ita. Those are pretty sweet. You use your regular koma on top of the plastic, and that makes silent practice more more like normal practice since you’re using your regular string height and you dont have to mess around with your bachi positioning. Any chance you can offer those in the Bachido Store, Kyle?
That’s a sweet contraption. Looks like an extra thick bachigawa. 
Yeah, I’ll inquire with Masahiro about that now. 
A few years ago Kevin and I were in Kanagi for a tournament. One if the vendors was selling a device that muted the shamisen. It was actually a dou shaped piece of rubber I believe. It fit right over the skin and made it completely quiet.
Anyway, it was something like that.
I recently bought a similar mute/shinobigoma as I live in an apartment in a rural area that’s really quiet at night. I don’t have it handy, but if anyone is interested, I can upload a picture of both it and the box later.
Basically, it’s a long flat board-ish thing, that rests on the edges of the dou, so not putting pressure on the skin itself. It’s covered with thick washi (Japanese paper) and a bachikawa, and has an adjustable bridge affixed to it. (you turn a little screw to move it up or down.) To put it on the shamisen, you actually have slide the neo(or whatever that knot thingy is called) off as it has a little tail piece that hugs the curve of the dou and keeps the mute from moving while you play.
I was a little leery about it, but was assured by the shop keepers that the bachi would be fine. (Though mine is synthetic bekko, so I’m not sure about the actual stuff.)
I haven’t used it too much yet, but am happy with it so far and am pretty confident that it’s not harming the instrument at all.
Yo! Pat Deaton is on board! Holy Moses! I have been trying to reach you mister! What the hell man? Are you in Aichi ken right now? Geez bro, get in touch already! It’s been too long!
But either way, it’s awesome to see you here on Bachido, Pat! I’ve been hoping to hear your Shamisen playing sometime soon. It’s actually been keeping me up at night some nights. You know… I just lie there thinking to myself… “Why have I not heard the Shamisen of Pat in so long…Why God? PLEASE TELL ME, why???”
Ublublublublublubwhaaaaaa???
Like a shinobi himself, Pat emerges from outta nowhere! (well, Google most likely)
How have you been, man!?? Please! Stay a bit and rest a spell! Give us an update on your Shitara shenanigans!
Oh sweet! Is it this thing? We were gonna sell it, but I kinda forgot. 
I’ll add it to the list.
Pat!!! Super sad I couldn’t meet up with you this year! Thank you for your input! Post some more videos BRRAAAAAAHHH
Oh sweet! Is it this thing? We were gonna sell it, but I kinda forgot.
It is indeed that thing, and your picture is a lot better than the ones I took with my phone last night! I can vouch for it’s quality. (So can my whole apartment building.)
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Kevin, Kyle, Grant,
Hi Guys! Yeah, sorry for my retreat into solitude. If only I could say it was because I was training in a mountain cave or something…
I was sad to not be able to meet you this year as well!! Maybe next year. I’ve decided, like last week, not to puss out and to practice for the hirosaki taikai next year. Ive been banjo-ing a bit too much recently (cuz i can shove a scarf in it and play at night), but thanks to the mute my shamisen is getting a lot more playtime. I’m on summer vacation now (meaning I’m not in school, but at the board of ed office everyday), so I am going to try and get something presentable together and upload it. Though really, I suck now, so we shall see. But, now that I know that I’m keeping Kevin from sleeping, the pressure is on!
m(_ _)m
