So I was at airport security...

General
#1

I was recently at the airport to embark on a little shamisen business (or as I like to say, “bid’ness”). Like every time I go through security check, my heart starts to beat a bit faster, knowing that they’ll probably want to take out my shamisen for inspection. (For the record, they’ve always been gentle and respectful with it) However, this time blew me away.

As my shamisen went through the scanner, the stern looking security guard looked at me and said, “Is this yours? What is it?” Another security guard behind him looked at the monitor and said, “Oh, that’s the Japanese banjo.” I admit, I was totally not expecting that!

So we talked a bit as I was putting my shoes back on. He said, “I really like music by the Yoshida Brothers. They’ve probably brought the shamisen to a recognizable level.” Needless to say, that moment made me smile for the rest of the day.

For those who get hassled at airport security because of your shamisen, please be patient. Very soon, your shamisen too will go through the scanner and the security officer will say, “Whoa cool! I’ve always wanted to play one of those!” :slight_smile:

#2

Haha great! Hm I think I never had anyone in the cab who knew about shamisen at least not prior to the ride . . .

#3

Really nice Kyle! I have also had a couple of similar experiences with my shamisen at airports. My favourite though was when I was going through security at the (rather small) Regina, Sask. airport with my kora. I swear to god they asked my to open up the case and within a minute there were 5 guards around me ooo-ing and aw-ing all with big smiles on their faces and a pile of sweet questions.

#4

Bachido meishi attack!

#5

Catherine,
I just googled the kora. I would Ooh and Ah about it too! It’s like a banjo-harp-sitar-harpsichord hybrid!

#6

Kyle A… The Kora: a banjo-harp-sitar-harpsichord hybrid. What a perfect descriptive whadawhada!

#7

That’s a cool experience. When I travelled back from Japan, I had a similar experience at Haneda security…but they got colder the further I flew around the world.

I was really surprised that you can take an instrument as big, in a hard case, as hand luggage. So were some of the other travellers in the terminal. The tuts of displeasure and anger as not only could I take the instrument on that was far bigger than their pewny little roll on, but also they let me pre-board so I could make sure there was space to fit the case, were quite something to behold. It was nice, I liked it.

#8

I used to work as the x ray viewer guy at an airport terminal here in Japan. Never saw a Shamisen but I did see a Bong one time. The funniest part was the guy trying to get it through told me in a freakishly nervous voice that it was a “Glass sculpture” for his uncle who collects glass sculptures like that. I just looked at him and said
“Dude. If there’s one person on this planet that knows what a Bong is, it’s me!”

(I let him through with it and gave him a little wink for his “Glass” sculpture! Haha. Theoretically it’s not illegal until its been used after all!)

#9

Great story, Kevin!

#10

Wonderful story, Kyle-chan!

Getting through checkpoints is just one hurdle. Though having stoned scanner operators is very helpful :wink: Now you have to get your instrument on board.

Although every airline has a different policy, and that policy varies capriciously per flight crew, you do actually have the right to bring your instrument on board.

This is a nice summation of the current legal situation:
https://www.futureofmusic.org/article/fact-sheet/traveling-instruments

Also, if you are part of any sort of group with a letterhead, like a musicians union or orchestra or school, a hand-carried letter worded to the effect that you and your instrument are, in fact, virtuoso cultural treasures, that letter can be waved and might help with stubborn music hating martinets at the check-in counter or boarding lounge.

I will risk adding one of my stories: Coming back to university in the USA from my home in Rio in 1972, I was carrying my new Guitarra Portuguesa in a new homemade coffin case. Customs opened the case in Miami and the reek of contact cement from gluing in the velvet lining filled the room. The mood went from dubious (my hair was a few feet long in those days) to full red alert in two seconds. Lining was peeled, steel needles probed foam and much red-faced, close and hostile questioning ensued. Finally, I was allowed to enter the country with my new case. Of course, I was not smuggling drugs in the case - I was smuggling Guitarra Portuguesas.

#11

Hi, everyone,
My Sensei had a completely different experience. I think it was soon after 9/11. Security guy suspected her bachi as a cutlery weapon! As you know, Kyle, Nakajima Sensei is a tiny senior who would be so disqualified to be a terrorist! She had to explain or maybe show how she played Shamisen with her limited English, poor lady. Since I heard her story, for several flights, I put my bachi inside the suit case to be checked in. Now, I am getting hopeful!

#12

ha! Similar story. Getting of the plane at the airport in israel, I’m hoping to get out of the airport as quickly and hasslefree as possible. Israel however always has security both in and out of uniform to greet you as you come off, to protect against the two biggest threats. people with dark skin and do-gooder lefties.

anywhoo not wanting to be held up by inane questions i do my best to be a busy-business-person-about-town-late-for-meeting impression a feat hampered by the shamisen softcase slung over my should.

naturally i get picked out of line…
"…excuse me sir can we have a moment? "
speaking in hebrew allowed him to cut to the chase of the basic why are you here questions, but he did enquire about the softcase.
“it’s a japanese instrument” i said.
“a shamisen?”
“…wha? why yes how did you know”
quietly so his butch security colleagues wouldn’t notice he sheepishly answers
“…i watch a lot of anime”…

#13

Haha Shmoolik, that was funny!

I’ve just been asked if my shamisen hard case was a gun case both at home and at Narita. But it’s not so strange that they asked me in Japan because I saw this guy who bought a katana and was under the impression that he could bring it in the cabin.

#14

o yeah. those were the days! I practise Iaido and back a few years before that 9/11 thing, I asked one of our sensei what he did when he travelled by air with his Iaito (with a sharp blade). He said that what he usually did was just wait for the pilot to come along and then would ask him/her to bring it into the cabin for him. No problem from what I remember.

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