This is it, my beautiful sanshin. It has three nylon strings stretched over a tiny bamboo bridge. Snakeskin is stretched over the body, and the rough edges are concealed with a decorative brocade band. It is played with a finger pick made from water buffalo horn, just visible in the lower left corner.
It is propped up in the place of honor (tokonoma, in Japanese) and is ready to be played any time.
The flowers are hibiscus. They bloom all year round in Okinawa. Tokyo is a little too cold for them to bloom outdoors in December, so they have been brought inside where they can keep the sanshin company.
