Minyo Shamisen Set “Araki”

Araki is a real stunner! I mean, you see what you see, right? And it’s not just looks, but the instrument really plays beautifully and has a bright, full sound. Gorgeous is what I call it! The neck size with 27mm fingerboard and 30mm neck width and height is very comfy for normal-sized hands! Araki is a true all-rounder that will fill your eyes with a happy sparkle whenever you play (or just gaze at the instrument’s beautiful curves).

Now to the tech specs: Beautiful shamisen with a medium-sized neck (chuuzao), typically used for Minyou 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. The wood has an especially beautiful grain and the black synthetic skins give it an extra modern look.

The instrument is made from high-end shitan wood in the typical chocolate-y brown shade. The instrument comes with a red neo and a blue and golden doukake that reflects Araki’s gorgeous sound quality. Also included in the package are an attached dougomu, a fujaku strip, and a set of fresh strings. The dou is freshly reskinned with the newest generation of synthetic skins “Hibiki” that provides a strong yet warm sound.

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.

This fingerboard is 27mm wide. The neck is 30mm wide and 30 mm high at the top and widens slightly towards the dou. It has a sharp hatomune – the part where the neck enters the sound box – which allows you to play up to position 20 and slightly beyond.

The ebio (the curved end of the tenjin) is in perfect condition. 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 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.

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

All you need to add to your set to start playing are a koma, a bachi and a yubisuri. These are not included in the package because depending on the style you intend to play, 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.