Minyo Shamisen Set “Kurotsuru”

A beacon of beauty is what this shamisen is! Thus the name “Kurotsuru” (黒鶴), meaning “black crane”. The crane (tsuru) is a powerful symbol in Japanese culture: grace, longevity, focus — exactly the kind of presence this instrument has. The golden cranes spreading their wings over the energetic red doukake contrasts beautifully with the black skins.  Kuro means black – like the skins, but also like the deep shade of the wood.

A truly beautiful shamisen with a medium-sized neck (chuuzao), typically used for Minyo playing style. Thanks to the adjustable azuma sawari, this shamisen can have its delightful buzz no matter how high or low you tune your instrument. Within the range of medium-neck shamisen, this one is on the wider size – so a good pick for people with larger hands!

It’s an especially precious instrument with more intricate joints and metal fittings (rindou) at bottom end of the neck.

Wood:

This instrument’s neck is made from koki wood – the most sought-after wood in contemporary shamisen culture. It has some of the rare and enticing figuration called “tochi” – that’s the flame-like sparkles when the light hits from the right angle. This instrument is truly stunning!

Accessories and Skins:

The instrument comes with a beautiful red doukake with golden cranes. The red neo picks up the red accent color and adds further to the very chic look. Also included in the package are a set of fresh strings, a tenjin cap, and a dougomu.

The dou is skinned with Hibiki – the newest generation of synthetic skins with a warm tone that’s closer to the sound of natural skins than any of its predecessors.

Hibiki skin is extremely durable and robust. In comparison to natural skin, you don’t have to worry about humidity or sudden rain when playing the shamisen outdoors (you’ll still want to try to avoid both to protect the wood though). This means, you won’t need to use a washi bag to protect your shamisen’s skin.

Neck:

This neck is 29 mm wide and 30 mm high at the top and widens slightly towards the dou. The fingerboard is 27,75 mm wide at the narrow end. Its hatomune – the part where the neck enters the sound box – ends in a sharp edge that makes it possible to play up to position 20 and slightly beyond on this instrument. The fingerboard is extremely smooth and makes playing this shamisen even more delightful!

Itomaki:

The itomaki (tuning pegs) are made from ebony wood and have a very balanced size that makes tuning comfortable and easy.

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.

More:

The tsukigata (the curved end of the tenjin) is in perfect condition, and the instrument’s wood has a beautiful deep brown shade and beautiful grain that sparkles mysteriously in the light. The neck is crafted in mitsuori style: It can be separated into three parts. This makes travelling with the shamisen very easy – even if you have to get by with light and small luggage. The joints are very well crafted with a very nice tight fit.

All you need to add to your set to start playing are a koma, a bachi and a yubisuri. Depending on the style you intend to play and your personal preferences, you want to pick a certain kind of koma and bachi. Yubisuri come in different sizes, and I didn’t want to deprive you of the difficult yet fun choice between all the wonderful colors.

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.

If you have any further questions, reach out and send me a message and I’ll be happy to help.