How to make bamboo Bachi
How to make Amami Shamisen's bamboo Bachi
http://homepage2.nifty.com/~m_oohashi/amami-takebachi/
If there is no Moso bamboo in your country, you can make bamboo Bachi from this type of bamboo food stick.
04/15/2012
01/15/2012
Internet radio
You can hear an FM station of Amami Oshima Island on the web.
http://www.simulradio.jp/asx/AmamiFM.asx
04/10/2011
04/03/2011
San to Yorojima Bushi
Vocal, Shamisen : Kousuke Atari
Backing Vocal (Hayashi) : Kazumi Nishi
San is a name of place in Tokunoshima Island, and Yorojima is a name of an island.
Asagao Bushi
Vocal, Shamisen : Kousuke Atari
Backing Vocal (Hayashi) : Kazumi Nishi
Asagao is a name of flower, Japanese morning glory.
This song is sung in formal occasions such as housewarming party.
04/01/2011
Asabana Bushi and Shumichi Nagahama Bushi
Live recorded at Amami Oshima Island.
Vocal, Shamisen : Nami Makioka
Backing Vocal (Hayashi) : Kousuke Atari
01/03/2011
Hachigatsu Odori dance by Sani people in Sani village
Live recorded at Sani, Kasari Town, Amami City, Amami Oshima Island, Oct. 9, 2010.
They are dancing in various places, every houses in old times, moving in their village.
Only women can play drums in Sani, because women are considered to have spiritual forces.
Men and women sung Hachigatsu Odori songs by turns, sometimes using impromptu verse.
At the end of Hachigatsu Odori Dance, they play and dance Rokucho.
12/30/2010
Hachigatsu Odori dance by Sani people
Hachigatsu Odori is the ancestral dance of village called "shima", in Amami Islands. Every shima has its own Hachigatsu Odori dance and songs.
These videos are danced by Sani people, form the 佐仁 Sani village, located northern part of Amami Oshima Island.
It is said that the Hachigatsu Odori is the origin of Amami Shimauta. Only drums (Tidin) are used in Hachigatsu Odori dance.
These videos are live recorded at Amami Oshima Island, Sep. 4, 2010.
12/23/2010
05 Various kinds of Bachi
In Amami Shamisen, there are three type of Bachi (a traditional pick) now.
1 is made from bamboo sheath. Generally, about five inches long.
2 is made from plastics and 3 is made of tortoiseshell.
As we use uppicking frequently in Amami Shamisen, pliant bachi is needed.
Advantages and disadvantages of these bachi are as follows.
1 bamboo sheath; This type of bachi make the most excellent sound of Shamisen strings, but of course, easy to break.
2 plastics; To practice Shamisen, this type of bachi is the best. This bachi is not easy to deform, but sometimes too pliant.
3 tortoiseshell; This type of bachi is most strong, and you can use one bachi for a long time, but a little hard to play Amami Shamisen.
12/19/2010
04 Name of the strings
The first string is called 男弦（Udiru）or第一弦（dai ichi gen）, and the second string is 中弦（Nahadiru）or 第二弦（dai ni gen）, the third string is女弦（Muidiru）or 第三弦（dai san gen）. If you buy set of strings on website, the first string and the third string are marked with purple paper, and the second string is marked with red paper. As we use various type of grace notes in Amami Shimauta using fingers of left hand, the strings must be lighter than Okinawan Strings.
11/18/2010
03 How to play Amami Shimauta using Okinawan Sanshin
If you have Okinawan Sanshin, you can play Amami Shimauta only by changing strings and bachi.
Strings : Besides Central Gakki Co., Ltd., there is Amami Shamisen strings in Asoviva on the web. See their accessory page. How to string Amami Shamisen is same with Okinawan Sanshin.
Bachi : You can make bachi by yourself. I will explain how to make bachi later on.
Other accessories : Other accessories are same with Okinawan Sanshin.
11/13/2010
02 How to buy Amami Shamisen on Japanese website
You can purchase Amami Shamisen and spare parts or Bachi on this site.
CENTRAL GAKKI Co., Ltd.
Amami Shamisen
Bachi and other accessories
Central Gakki Co. is an music company, making a lot of shimauta CD in Amami Oshima island.
This site is written in Japanese. If you agree next three conditions, Central Gakki Co., Ltd. will send you Amami Shamisen in response to your order from overseas.
Conditions of sale :
1) Orders are accepted only by credit card and order form on their website.
2) Extra shipping charges are necessary.
3) If goods are lost or damaged in transit, they have no responsibility about the accident.
You can make inquiries in English by e-mail or from order form.
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