Shamisen - Strings Of Tradition
What does one get when one combines ivory, silk threads, red sandalwood, dog skin and tortoise shell? No, it is not a part of any ritual or ingredients out of a horror flick. They are the raw materials for the traditional Japanese plucked lute - shamisen. "The word 'shamisen' means three strings," explained Hidesaburo Abe, founder of Abeya folk music group. In the land of the Samurai, the shamisen is an integral part of the country's traditional folk culture. "There are a variety of shamisen in Japan," said Hiromoto Oyama, first secretary, Embassy of Japan in Jamaica. "The instrument has variants, according to the region and the kind of folklore that it is being played with." INDIAN ROOTS Shamisen traces its origins to Okinawa, south Japan, where it is said to have come from India. Musical instruments similar to the shamisen have been excavated in Mongolia. "The shamisen has a variety of sizes, but the shape is almost simi...