Kankara sanshin

The or (literally " from a can") is a Japanese three-stringed folk plucked instrument, initially an improvised derivative of the Okinawan that was developed in the Ryukyu Islands during the Shōwa period.

Like the wooden-bodied , the is an inexpensive alternative to other, professional Japanese lutes – namely the and the similar, albeit larger . Unlike the , however, the was invented much later and served a much different purpose historically.

History

The originates in the period following the World War II Battle of Okinawa. Okinawans, including men detained by the American military, made use of metal cans discarded by the Americans, and used them as the body for improvised .

A similar type of can-based was made by Japanese-Americans in internment camps in the United States during the war.

Since World War II, have become popular as inexpensive alternatives to the or , and professional or makers have begun to craft them and include them in their stores, online and in catalogues. The itself has also evolved to some degree, with certain makers creating more ornate instruments with hand-painted frontal designs and the decorative wrappings that are a feature of the proper. DIY "build-your-own" kits are also readily available.

Construction and components

The following is a list of basic components that normally make up a , with Japanese phrases that refer to the English terms in and parlance:

* — An empty metal can or cylinder is used to create the body of the instrument, in lieu of the snakeskin-covered bodies typical of .
* — The headstock of the instrument is made in an unspecified way, usually resembling that of a or . It is normally an extension of the neck.
* — The long neck of the instrument is constructed from any one of an assortment of different types of wood.
* — The , normally being a less costly instrument than a proper, may have its strings made from any of a variety of materials. There is no normative material used for stringing. Nylon, sinew, metal wire and other materials may be used, depending upon the maker.
* — The tuning pegs/knobs/keys used for the are made in an unspecified way, sometimes resembling the long pegs characteristic of the and , and at other times more akin to those found on modern and classical guitars.

Notes

References

See also

* Ryukyuan music
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Further reading

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{{Traditional Japanese musical instruments

Drumhead lutes
Necked lutes
Okinawan folk music