Tsugaru Shamisen Set | Hayate

Be careful not to drool on your screen when looking at this shamisen! This instrument’s is such a delicious example of Japanese craftsmanship that you want to just keep staring at it and admire its beauty until your eyes get tired.

Meet “Hayate” (疾風) — a shamisen that captures the wild, unstoppable energy of the wind. Its deep blue doukake evokes stormy skies and the open ocean, giving every note a sense of freedom and power. The name means “gale” or “swift wind”, perfectly matching the bold spirit of a Tsugaru shamisen. This shamisen has an especially thick neck and is great for players with large hands.

This instrument plays with fiery energy and precision — ideal for performers who want their music to flow fast, hit hard, and make an impression.

The instrument is in very good condition – it shall make you happy for many, many years to come.

Wood:

The neck is made from koki wood – the traditional super high-end hardwood that is the most desired choice for professional players due to its outstanding beauty, smooth feel and fine sound qualities.

Accessories and Skins:

The accessories underline the special beauty of this instrument: a beautiful Tsugaru Laqcuer doukake (body cover), complimented with a silver neo that reminds me of fresh ocean spray and glittering clouds. Also included in the package are a set of fresh strings, a tenjin cap, and a dougomu. The dou is skinned with fresh synthetic Hibiki skin on the top and still has its original natural skin from Japan on the back.

Neck:

This neck is 33.75 mm wide and 34.25 mm thick/high at the top and widens slightly towards the dou. This fingerboard is 31 mm wide at the narrow end. It ends in a sharp edge where the neck enters the sound box. This makes it possible to play up to position 20 and slightly beyond on this instrument.

I left the little marking on the side of the neck (see photos) from the previous owner because I think they are pretty useful. The fingerboard is heavenly smooth and lets you glide along the neck like an eagle soaring on a current of wind!

The joints are crafted in an especially intricate way which makes assembly and disassembly easier and improves the joints’ durability and fit.

Sawari (Buzz):

The installed azuma sawari lets you adjust the sawari (buzz) to your liking. This means you can switch it off completely (for modern pieces, pop/rock/metal genres or certain ensembles) and also have the perfect buzz no matter how high or low you tune your shamisen. One very special detail about this shamisen is the zoge azuma sawari block (adjustable buzzing mechanism). It’s not just an absolutely beautiful subtle eyecatcher, but also a much higher quality option to the usual ebony block.

Itomaki:

The itomaki (tuning pegs) are made from ebony wood – sturdy and classic.

More:

All you need to add to your set to start playing are a koma, a bachi and a yubisuri. Yubisuri come in different sizes and colors, so you can either match your shamisen’s look or have a colorfur contrasting highlight. There’s a variety of different koma and bachi you can choose from in the shop.

If you need help with picking the right additions to this set, don’t hesitate to send a message and we will find the perfect match for you together.