Packing

Things you need for packing a shamisen

• Cardboard box
• Packing materials (bubble wraps or newspapers)
• Packing tape

How to disassemble a shamisen
(usually the shamisen's neck can be separated into three pieces)

1. Please pack on the bed, etc. so that the shamisen does not break when you drop.
2. Untie the neo (a part which knots strings together).
3. Wrap the strings to the pegs of the head neck.
4. Turn the back skin toward you.
5. A shamisen can be disassemble into 3 parts. Hold the upper seam joint (or around the upper seam joint) with your left hand. With your right hand, pound the seam joint area from top to down.
6. The joints will gradually open up as you pound. So be patient when you pound.
7. As the joints gradually opens up, hold the shamisen after you pound with your right hand to avoid dropping when joints come apart.
8. The head neck and the middle neck should come off.
9. Disassemble the middle neck and the lower neck by doing the same steps.
10. When the neck is disassembled into 3 pieces, attach Karitsugi (attachment) if you have any.

How to assemble a shamisen

1. Please pack on the bed, etc. so that the shamisen does not break when you drop.
2. Turn the top surface toward you.
3. Match the grooves on the lower neck and the middle neck and insert the middle neck into the lower neck. (If there are no grooves, you can insert smoothly by putting the surfaces of the shamisen together using your thumb.)
4. You may still see a space between seam joints, so hold and push the top of the middle neck with your both hands harder.
5. Push until there is no space between seam joints.
6. Assemble the middle neck and the head neck by doing the same steps.
7. Insert the neo at the edge of the body and stretch strings.

How to string

packing procedure

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  First, prepare a cardboard box that is sufficient to fit a shamisen. We recommend a slightly larger box.

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  Disassemble the pegs and attach Karitsugi (attachment) if you have any.

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  Wrap each piece with bubble wraps. If you don have a Karitsugi (attachment), wrap with extra bubble wraps. If you need skin replacement and are sending us only the body part of the shamisen, we recommend you to enclose the neck with the body because it is difficult to insert the neck into the body.

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  Prepare newspapers that you put in the cardboard box. Cover the bottom of the box with the newspapers.

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  Place the shamisen or pegs, etc. on top of the newspapers. Placing each piece too close may cause breakage or damage to the shamisen. We recommend you to place each piece loosely to prevent any breakage or damage.

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  Place enough crumpled newspapers on top of the shamisen.

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  This should complete packing the shamisen. On the box, write “Handle with care. Shamisen inside.” or attach a “Fragile” label.

Here are some of the shamisen accessoris in our shop.