![]() It’s necessary to respect and carefully use the resources we have.” (…) “One of my challenges as a craftsman is to reproduce the original sounds of traditional Okinawan music by creating instruments with the materials I have available. “ The greatest difficulty for the future of this traditional art is the lack of resources. Therefore, more affordable sanshin is made from wood already treated and imported from other countries. ![]() Nowadays, sanshin made from this type of wood can cost hundreds of thousands of yen, as this resource is becoming increasingly difficult to find in Okinawa. Sanshin is a simple instrument at first glance, and I couldn’t imagine that its production would require such painstaking work. That’s why it’s important to work it little by little.” Machida-san tells me to my astonished face. Then it has to be left to rest, so its shape doesn’t change over time. The process for treating this wood, since it’s obtained from the tree until it’s considered suitable for sanshin assembly, can take up to ten years.” (…) “ The wood needs to dry naturally, which usually means you have to wait another five years. Typically, ebony trees no younger than 100 years old are used to make sanshin (the time necessary for the tree to grow a big enough black core to produce one or more instrument necks). This black ebony core is highly sought-after for its strength and its traditional sound quality. “For the instrument’s neck, wood from a type of ebony native to Okinawa was once regularly used. For this reason, other types of synthetic materials are commonly used nowadays. In recent years, animal protection laws have been changing, and even though the snake species used for sanshin are not endangered, it isn’t easy to export this type of product to other countries. The usage of this skin type for sanshin is unique to Okinawa,” Machida-san explains as he shows me some different sanshin. The traditional sanshin is covered with snakeskin imported from Southeast Asia. “ The main difference between sanshin and shamisen is the type of skin used. Later, sanshin was spread throughout mainland Japan, and it evolved into the shamisen (三味線), a very popular Japanese instrument. It’s said that it was inspired by a Chinese stringed instrument that was transported to the islands when Okinawa was still the independent Ryukyu Kingdom. It’s a kind of Japanese guitar with three strings that produces a warm and cheerful sound. Sanshin is considered the soul of this prefecture’s music. It’s the best environment to learn about this traditional Japanese instrument. Machida-san welcomes me at Machidaya, a small sanshin store and workshop located in Yomitan village, close to the turquoise sea off the coast of Okinawa. Sanshin and the Sounds of the Okinawan Islands This experience led me to a hands-on discovery of this region’s music, heavily influenced by the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom. In addition to the classic sanshin (三線), Okinawa’s most popular instrument, they also have other unique items, like the sanlele, crafted exclusively by the store that can be purchased on the Voyapon Store. During my stay in Yomitan village, I visited Machidaya, a traditional Japanese instruments workshop. But in Okinawa, a prefecture made up of numerous islands south of Kyushu (Japan’s southern main island), music plays a very important role in the culture and traditions of its inhabitants. In Japan, music is a highly appreciated art with a wide array of sounds and instruments. Sometimes, it remains intact, and at other times, it flows and adapts to changing times. It’s a universal language understood all over the world and capable of weaving a shared bond between millions of people across different cultures, countries and generations. ![]() It’s often said that music knows no borders.
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