Carving Ayasugi on Shamisen

High end Shamisen feature an ornate pattern carved on the inside of the dou (body). While some believe that this pattern increases the sound quality, many players and makers admit it is only visual aesthetic used to increase the monetary value of the instrument. But hey, we like fancy things, right? Let me show you how to add the Ayasugi pattern to your homemade shamisen! These days, the pattern is cut with a CNC machine, but we can do it the traditional way with a simple chisel. Interested in learning how to make a shamisen? Check out my book, Shamisen of Japan! -