id inc. revamps traditional japanese instrument using contemporary tones

the shamisen is a traditional japanese music instrument that has been modernized by creative studio id inc. to provide a more familiar outcome to users. essentially, they were made smaller and lighter than the original ones — with a material choice and production process that were also completely altered to offer a refreshing contemporary instrument.  

all images © id inc.

id inc. initially selected lighter but harder to distort woods as main material for the shamisen. on the other hand, through using synthetic fabric for acrostic coating, the unchanged tensile force bought out the highest and strongest sound from the instrument’s smaller body. finally, the ‘sound of edo’ which had been loved by japanese along with the leisure culture have also been modernized to entertain a wider range of people — from children to seniors home and abroad. 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom