Shovel shamisen is a quirky and fun addition to the Japanese music scene【Video】

What began as a backyard software is now a bona fide musical instrument.

Studying a brand new instrument isn’t straightforward. Placing apart the selection of what instrument to study, the preliminary value could be very prohibitive, significantly for the bigger ones like a harp or the extra uncommon ones like an octobass. For some folks, all it takes is a few on a regular basis objects and a can-do perspective to turn into grasp musicians, similar to the creators of the shovel shamisen. That’s proper—a shovel and bottle opener are all you want!

▼ A shovel shamisen efficiency

The Japanese shamisen has a protracted and wealthy historical past as a musical instrument. Initially derived from an identical three-stringed Chinese language instrument within the sixteenth century, it has turn into a principal function of conventional Japanese music. From the dramatic performances of kabuki and the puppet theater of bunraku to the folk-rock tunes of Wagakki Band, displaying that the shamisen is as versatile in Japanese music because the violin is in western classical music.

▼ The standard shamisen

Shovel shamisen started as a enjoyable, little get together act in Aomori, the place folks tried to recreate the fashion and sound of the shamisen utilizing nothing greater than a easy shovel and a bottle opener. Over time, the act developed right into a legit artwork type in its personal proper, full with official competitions, native tournaments, and even a world championship.

Within the city of Hokuei, Tottori, a passionate group of performers have been gathering collectively to benefit from the exercise for about 13 years beneath the identify of Sco-shan, a portmanteau of sukoppu (“shovel”) and shamisen. The truth that members are of their 70s and 80s does little to decrease the quantity of power and enthusiasm they convey to their performances. Main the group is the music-loving 87-year-old Takashi Hishii, who has been a member of each a choir and a band for seniors.

The idea of shovel shamisen sounds easy: simply bang a shovel to the beat, though it really takes somewhat extra talent to drag off an honest efficiency. Not solely do you have to have rhythm, but in addition the coordination to maneuver your hand up and down the neck of the instrument to simulate the notice modifications of a conventional shamisen. They even have correct sheet music for the songs they play, as proven within the level cued up within the video under, proving that it’s not merely random clanging.

Throw in some synchronized actions and added flairs and also you’ve bought your self a powerful efficiency.

Shovel shamisen is fairly enjoyable, nevertheless it doesn’t cease there. It’s additionally a reasonably good exercise, each bodily and mentally. It trains each hand-eye coordination and multi-tasking, permitting gamers to remain mentally lively, even when they’re getting on in years. In truth, some gamers are satisfied that it’s having a optimistic impact in staving off dementia. That’s to not point out the social facet, the place group members take pleasure in chatting with one another through the breaks and on the journeys to their performances.

Whether or not you’re searching for a singular interest, a brand new get together trick, or simply an excuse to bang on a shovel, shovel shamisen may be precisely what you’re searching for. So seize your shovel and bottle opener and let’s begin clanging—world championship, right here we come.

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