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Okinawa: 1,700 kilometers south of Tokyo
is a beautiful island with its own unique culture.
Central to Okinawan culture is its music, most of which features the
traditional three-
stringed Sanshin.
Joy, regret, or just relief at the end of the day's work.
Okinawans like to express their feelings to the sound of the Sanshin.
Many young Okinawans are now learning to play the Sanshin. What did they think
about this instrument?
I think it brings people closer together.
The Sanshin feels like an old friend to me.
Because of its central location,
Okinawans were greatly influenced by surrounding Asian cultures.
The Sanshin was based on a Chinese instrument.
Modified over the centuries until it gave today's uniquely
Okinawan sound.
The neck is carved from Ryukyu Ebony, naturally cured over a long period
and the body is made from four pieces of wood covered in snakeskin.
The name Sanshin literally means "Three Strings."
I far more than just a popular folk instrument,
for Okinawans the Sanshin represents the
enduring heart of their island culture.