About Yanagawa Shamisen

1. "Yanagawa-ryu" of Kyoto and the Yanagawa Shamisen

For the photoshoot in Kyoto, we used the precious "Yanagawa Shamisen," which is now only found in Kyoto.

This instrument, passed down through the "Yanagawa-ryu," the oldest school of jiuta shamisen, possesses a special quality, holding a profound resonance within its quiet sound.

The founder, Yanagawa Kengyo, is said to have been a disciple of Ishimura Kengyo, who created the shamisen, and he passed down the first jiuta work, "Shamisen Kumikyoku." Subsequently, improvements were made in Osaka and Kyushu, and now the "Kyushu Shamisen" and "Tsuyama Bachi" are mainstream. However, in Kyoto, efforts continue to preserve and pass down the Yanagawa Shamisen.

2. A Sound Connecting Tradition and Modernity

While modern performances primarily use improved shamisen, it was during the era of the Yanagawa Shamisen that numerous masterpieces such as "Kyofu-tegoto-mono" were created. Its profound sound can be described as a symbol of the "stillness and richness" inherited in Kyoto.

TAMIYA is a brand that delivers "space" and "stillness" to modern life, while paying homage to Japanese tradition and the spirit of craftsmanship. The use of the Yanagawa Shamisen in this photoshoot was also to embody this philosophy through sound.