$1,890.00
Out of stock
To learn more about the Sakura Shamisen please click on the link below!
To help you get started with your brand-new Sakura Shamisen, I am including several learning materials for free!
Note: A Bachido membership (free) is required to access the courses.
Out of stock
Out of stock
When investing in a new instrument, you want to know that it’s designed with a mutual balance of beauty and functionality, while being environmentally conscious. At Bachido, we’re always focused on making the shamisen more accessible and sustainable in the world, which is why we’re proud to present the Sakura Shamisen.
The Sakura Shamisen (a.k.a, ‘Sakura’) is the first professionally-made shamisen to be designed for the consideration of both players and the environment, while maintaining the highest standards for quality. Let’s find out why!
Despite the prized shamisen wood (kouki) facing extreme endangerment, there has been little effort to use environmentally friendly resources. Most makers still insist on kouki for the reason of “preserving tradition”, even though the use of kouki started only 40~50 years ago!
At Bachido, we strongly believe that using sustainable woods offers great quality, beauty and peace of mind. A push for ethical resources will benefit the future of shamisen, shamisen enthusiasts, and the world in where we make our music. All with no loss of quality.
The Sakura Shamisen is the first of it’s kind to be made with Purple Heart, a water-resistant wood that is strong, beautiful and abundant. This instrument is made in Japan by one of the best shamisen makers in Tokyo, who is famous for making the best sounding dou (body). So when you play a Sakura Shamisen, you know you are getting the richest tone while supporting a sustainable future for our beloved three-stringed rocking machine!
When tsugaru shamisen started regaining popularity in the 70s, a few successful players had their shamisen custom-made with thicker necks for the image of a masculine instrument. Once this aesthetic became popular for shamisen players, the neck became thicker and thicker, so much that nowadays, some professional players will move their strings closer together, not even using the full width of the neck. For the Sakura Shamisen, we take a step back towards functionality by consciously building a thinner neck.
When I started the tsugaru style, I unquestioningly believed that ‘bigger is better’. Thicker strings, a wider neck, larger body, it all went towards the direction of “good.” As I improved over the years, I too found myself putting the strings closer together to play more comfortably, and then started to question this belief. If I don’t even use the full width of the neck, isn’t extra weight and wood hindering my abilities?
You can imagine how thrilled I was when this new shamisen was released. When I usually play a new shamisen, it takes me a few minutes to get comfortable. When I picked up the Sakura Shamisen, my hand instantly felt united with the thinner neck, and executing all techniques felt so easy and sounded clear!
To help you get started with your brand-new Sakura Shamisen, I am including several learning materials for free!
Note: A Bachido membership (free) is required to access the courses.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.