Shamisen Collection (page 4)

Geishas playing the shamisen and koto, Japan, circa 1880s. Date: circa 1880s

Sumida River Holiday, 1788-90. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Sumida River Holiday, 1788-90

Pleasure Boat on the Sumida River, ca. 1788-90. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Pleasure Boat on the Sumida River, ca. 1788-90

Home of Foreign Merchants in Yokohama, 9th month, 1861. Creator: Sadahide Utagawa
Home of Foreign Merchants in Yokohama, 9th month, 1861

Group of Women on the Engawa of a Country House, in the time of the Cherry Blossoming, ca. 1806

Foreigners Enjoying a Party, 1st month, 1861. Creator: Utagawa Yoshitora
Foreigners Enjoying a Party, 1st month, 1861

Keisei Ichikawa Denzo, ca. 1797-1800. Creator: Utagawa Toyokuni I
Keisei Ichikawa Denzo, ca. 1797-1800. ca. 1797-1800

[Japanese Woman in Traditional Dress Posing with Instrument], 1870s. Creator: Unknown
[Japanese Woman in Traditional Dress Posing with Instrument], 1870s

[Tokyo Geisha with Shamisen], 1870s. Creator: Unknown
[Tokyo Geisha with Shamisen], 1870s

Scene from a Drama, ca. 1788. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Scene from a Drama, ca. 1788

Theatrical Scene, with Musicians. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Theatrical Scene, with Musicians. [Onoe Matsusuke I as an Oiran Stands at the Left, Talking to Nakamura Nakazo I as a Samurai, ca. 1788.]

Actors in a Shosa (Combination of Acting and Dancing) Performance, ca. 1790

Courtesan Drinking Tea, ca. 1830. Creator: Gakutei
Courtesan Drinking Tea, ca. 1830

Enjoying the Evening Cool at Nakasu, ca. 1782-83. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Enjoying the Evening Cool at Nakasu, ca. 1782-83

Ichimura Takenojo VIII, ca. 1720. Creator: Attributed to Torii Kiyotomo
Ichimura Takenojo VIII, ca. 1720

Women Playing Music, 19th century. Creator: Yanagawa Shigenobu
Women Playing Music, 19th century

Woman Tuning a Shamisen and a Cat Looking at its Own Reflection, mid- 1820s

Scene of the Drama "Oakinai Hiru-ga-Koshima", 1784-85. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Scene of the Drama " Oakinai Hiru-ga-Koshima", 1784-85

A Party of Merrymakers in a Tea-house at Shinagawa, ca. 1783. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
A Party of Merrymakers in a Tea-house at Shinagawa, ca. 1783

A Party of Geisha in a Suzumi-bune, i. e. "cooling-off boat
A Party of Geisha in a Suzumi-bune, i.e. " cooling-off boat." (Second Scene of a Boating Party), ca. 1796

A Parody of Yuranosuke in the Pleasure Quarters, ca. 1797. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
A Parody of Yuranosuke in the Pleasure Quarters, ca. 1797

Two Geisha, ca. 1792. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
Two Geisha, ca. 1792

Shamisen, Plectrum and a Book. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
Shamisen, Plectrum and a Book

Teahouse at Hirokoji, ca. 1835-42. ca. 1835-42. Creator: Ando Hiroshige
Teahouse at Hirokoji, ca. 1835-42

A Young Man and Woman with a Shamisen; Monk Saigyo, from a series alluding to the Three Evening Poems (Sanseki waka), ca. 1768

Imadobashi no Zu (Tama-Sho), ca. 1840. ca. 1840. Creator: Ando Hiroshige
Imadobashi no Zu (Tama-Sho), ca. 1840

Lady Interrupting Her Lover, who is Playing the Shamisen. Creator: Nishikawa Sukenobu
Lady Interrupting Her Lover, who is Playing the Shamisen

Lady Playing Shamisen, with Her Lover and Attendant Nearby. Creator: Nishikawa Sukenobu
Lady Playing Shamisen, with Her Lover and Attendant Nearby

The Music Lesson. Creator: Suzuki Harunobu
The Music Lesson

Combing His Hair, 1770. 1770. Creator: Suzuki Harunobu
Combing His Hair, 1770

Ichimura Kamezo in the Role of Kanto Koroku, ca. 1760?. ca. 1760?
Ichimura Kamezo in the Role of Kanto Koroku, ca. 1760?

An Oiran Playing the Shamisen to a Young Man Kneeling by Her Side in Rapt Attention

Parody of Palace Servants Heating Sake over a Fire of Maple Leaves, ca. 1750. ca. 1750
Parody of Palace Servants Heating Sake over a Fire of Maple Leaves, ca. 1750

Onoe Kikugoro in the role of Yaoya Oshichi and Nakamura Kiyosaburo as her lover the kosho (page) Kichisaburo, 1750

A Geisha Seated upon a Shogi in Front of a Tea-house, ca. 1763. ca. 1763
A Geisha Seated upon a Shogi in Front of a Tea-house, ca. 1763

Two Lovers - Shamisen
Two Japanese lovers play the shamisen. The girl touches the cords, whilst her lover determines the sounds by the pressure of his fingers on the strings. Date: 18th century

JAPAN 31
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area, neighbourhood where Geishas live and perform. Geisha with painted neck and shoulders, combed hair, white make up, head ornaments and traditional kimono

JAPAN 30
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area, neighbourhood where Geishas live and perform. Smiling Maiko with combed hair, white make up, head ornaments and traditional kimono

JAPAN 3
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area, neighbourhood of Geishas and Maikos Face portrait of a smiling Maiko with combed hair, white make up, head ornaments and traditional kimono

JAPAN 2
Japan, Kyoto, Gion area Portrait of a Maiko with white make up on her face and head ornaments ready for performance

JAPAN 17
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area the neighbourhood where Geishas live, study and perform. Geisha with painted neck and shoulders, fixed hair

JAPAN 16
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area the neighbourhood where Geishas live, study and perform. Geishas back with painted neck and shoulders, fixed hair and traditional kimono

JAPAN 15
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area the neighbourhood where Geishas live, study and perform. Geisha is practicing her Japanese flute skills at an empty classroom of " Mia Garatso" school for Geisha

JAPAN 14
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area the neighbourhood where Geishas live, study and perform. Two Maikos outside their house at Gion area, the neighbourhood where Geishas live, study and perform

JAPAN 13
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area the neighbourhood where Geishas live, study and perform. Geisha is attending an English class and talking to the teacher at " Mia Garatso" school for Geishas

JAPAN 12
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area the neighbourhood where Geishas live, study and perform. Geishas and Maikos attending a class at " Mia Garatso" school of Geisha

JAPAN 11
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area the neighbourhood where Geishas live, study and perform. Two Geishas wearing kimono and wigs attend an English class at " Mia Garatso" school for Geisha

JAPAN 1
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area Three Maikos are talking and laughing after finishing their classes at " Mia Garatso" school for Geishas and Maiko s

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The shamisen, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, has found its way into the hearts and culture of Japan. Geishas gracefully strumming the strings of the shamisen create an enchanting melody that captivates all who listen. In this captivating image, a Japanese geisha delicately plays the shamisen, transporting us back to the early 1900s when this beautiful art form thrived. Stepping into a bustling musical instrument shop in Japan, one can witness rows of meticulously crafted shamisens waiting to be played by skilled musicians. The triptych woodblock print depicting cherry blossom entertainment showcases the harmonious blend between nature's beauty and melodic tunes produced by these instruments. Intriguing glimpses into Japanese history reveal fascinating scenes from centuries ago. A traditional woodblock print portrays a female musician playing her shamisen while three samurai intently listen. As they enjoy her performance, a kamuro gracefully brings food on a tray, adding an element of elegance to this moment frozen in time. Traveling further back in time to late 17th century Yoshiwara reveals another facet of life where street scenes come alive with music and merriment. Hishikawa Moronobu's depiction captures the essence of daily life as courtesans play their beloved shamisens amidst vibrant surroundings. The legacy of the shamisen lives on through generations as it continues to inspire artists and musicians alike. Its timeless charm resonates not only within Japan but also across borders, leaving an indelible mark on cultures worldwide.