Shamisen

Arakawa's Artisans

Arakawa Ward Traditional Crafts Preservation Society
Artisanal Skills Still Passed Down Today in Arakawa

Shamisen

The instrument is said to have originated during the Eiroku era, when the “jabisen” (snake-skin shamisen) was introduced from Ryukyu. Subsequently, the skin used for the body evolved from snake skin to cat and dog skin, and the modern form of the shamisen—played with a plectrum—was established. During the Edo period, it became widely popular alongside the rise of performing arts such as Kabuki and Ningyo Joruri.
The production of the shamisen involves a division of labor among various stages, including the making of the neck, the crafting of the body (using paulownia wood), and the skin stretching. Within the district, the technique of skin stretching—the process of stretching the skin over the body—is still being passed down today.