Shamisen Collection

Geisha Playing Shamisen
A young geisha practises on her shamisen

Chinese musical instruments
A selection of Chinese musical instruments, including a bell(1), gong, (2), cymbals(4), a guqin or seven-stringed zither(7), a pipa or four-stringed lute (8), Yueqin or moon-shaped lute(11)

Japanese Geisha playing a Traditional Shamisen
Japanese Geisha in her home playing a Traditional Shamisen Date: circa 1904

Geisha / Instruments / C1900
Three geisha, in informal kimono: one practises on her shamisen whilst another reads

Men dancing to samisen music, from the series Shokoku meibutsu (Famous products... 1890-1895. Creator: Totoya Hokkei)
Men dancing to samisen music, from the series Shokoku meibutsu (Famous products of the provinces), 1890-1895

JAPAN 9
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 4
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area, neighbourhood where Geishas live and perform. Face portrait of a smiling Maiko with combed hair, white make up, head ornaments and traditional kimono

JAPAN 32
Japan/ Kyoto/ Gion area, neighbourhood where Geishas live and perform. Geisha with white make up on her face, combed hair, head ornaments and traditional kimono

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

The Actor Nakamura Shikan IV, 1884. Creator: Toyohara Kunichika
The Actor Nakamura Shikan IV, 1884

Wisteria Maiden Dancing for a Demon with a Samisen, late 18th-early 19th century. Creator: Kitao Masanobu
Wisteria Maiden Dancing for a Demon with a Samisen, late 18th-early 19th century

A Scene from the Play Hana no ura gikyoku tsuki (image 1 of 3), 1846. Creator: Utagawa Kunisada
A Scene from the Play Hana no ura gikyoku tsuki (image 1 of 3), 1846

Forms of Entertainment, 19th century. Creator: Unknown
Forms of Entertainment, 19th century

Geisha Tuning a Samisen, c1835. Creator: Yanagawa Shigenobu II
Geisha Tuning a Samisen, c1835. "Hand-Made" Flower Arrangement. From Flower Matching Contest, number 4

Geisha Accompanying Dancing Measles with Samisen, 1862. Creator: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Geisha Accompanying Dancing Measles with Samisen, 1862

Scene froma Kabuki play, Mid-late 1780s. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Scene froma Kabuki play, Mid-late 1780s. Actors Sawamura Sojuro III as Nuregami Chogoro, Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Hanaregoma Chokichi, Segawa Kikunojo III as Azuma

Inept Dilettante, between circa 1863 and circa 1866. Creator: Kawanabe Kyosai
Inept Dilettante, between circa 1863 and circa 1866

The Waka Murasaki Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Waka Murasaki)...parodies, c. 1710
The Waka Murasaki Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Waka Murasaki), from a series of Genji parodies, c. 1710

The Momiji-no-ga Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Momiji-no-ga), from a series... c. 1710
The Momiji-no-ga Chapter from "The Tale of Genji" (Genji Momiji-no-ga), from a series of Genji parodies, c. 1710

Futatsuryu of Izutsuya as a Musician (Hayashi), from the series "Parade of the Shimanouchi... 1836
Futatsuryu of Izutsuya as a Musician (Hayashi), from the series "Parade of the Shimanouchi Pleasure Quarter (Shimanouchi nerimono)", 1836

Turning a Shamisen (Shamisen no nejime), from the series "Chanting to Shamisen by... c. 1804/06
Turning a Shamisen (Shamisen no nejime), from the series "Chanting to Shamisen by Young Women of Today (Tosei musume joruri)", Japan, c. 1804/06

The Actors Segawa Kikunojo II as the Wet Nurse Reizei, Ichikawa Komazo I as Suruga no... c. 1768. Creator: Shunsho
The Actors Segawa Kikunojo II as the Wet Nurse Reizei, Ichikawa Komazo I as Suruga no Hachiro in the Guise of the Shamisen Player Kichiroku (right)

No. 4: Personally Arranged Flower (Teike no hana), from the series "A Comparison...", late 1820s
No. 4: Personally Arranged Flower (Teike no hana), from the series "A Comparison of Flowers (Hana awase)", late 1820s

Iris Garden, c. 1781/89. Creator: Katsukawa Shuncho
Iris Garden, c. 1781/89. Detail from a larger artwork

Picnic Party at Hagidera, c. 1785/95. Creator: Katsukawa Shuncho
Picnic Party at Hagidera, c. 1785/95. Women and children relax on a day out: trying to catch a cricket to put in a cage; smoking a kiseru, playing the shamisen. Detail from a larger artwork

Pleasure Boats on the Sumida River, c. 1792. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
Pleasure Boats on the Sumida River, c. 1792. A woman plays the shamisen. Detail from a larger artwork

Fukurokuju, from the series "The Seven Gods of Good Luck in the Floating World...", c. 1769
Fukurokuju, from the series "The Seven Gods of Good Luck in the Floating World (Ukiyo Shichi Fukujin)", c. 1769

The Moon (Tsuki), from the series "Fashionable Scenes of Snow, Moon and Flowers...c. 1768/69
The Moon (Tsuki), from the series "Fashionable Scenes of Snow, Moon and Flowers (Furyu setsugekka)", c. 1768/69

Heating Sake with Maple Leaves (Kanzake momijigari), no. 9 from a series of 12 prints... c.1716/35
Heating Sake with Maple Leaves (Kanzake momijigari), no. 9 from a series of 12 prints depicting parodies of plays, c. 1716/35

Japan - Musical Instrument Shop - Shamisens
Musical Instrument Shop, Japan. Note the selection of Shamisens in the window. Date: circa 1920s

Japanese Triptych Woodblock Cherry Blossom entertainment
A wonderful Triptych Ukiyo-e print for the master Kunisada Utagawa (1786-1864) started his career as the chief pupil of the head of the Utagawa school

Three samurai listen to a courtesan play the shamisen, as a kamuro brings food on a tray
FLO4630777 Three samurai listen to a courtesan play the shamisen, as a kamuro brings food on a tray. Woodblock print by Masanobu Okumura (1686-1764) from Fuzoku Emakimono

Street Scene in Yoshiwara, late 17th century. Creator: Hishikawa Moronobu
Street Scene in Yoshiwara, late 17th century

The Actors Segawa Kikunojo III as the ghost of Yatsuhashi, Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no... 1783
The Actors Segawa Kikunojo III as the ghost of Yatsuhashi, Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro, and Ichikawa Danjuro V as the ghost of Seigen, in the play "Sono Omokage Matsu ni Sakura

The Actors Nakayama Kojuro VI (Nakamura Nakazo I) as Chidori, Sawamura Sojuro III as Shige... 1785
The Actors Nakayama Kojuro VI (Nakamura Nakazo I) as Chidori, Sawamura Sojuro III as Shigemori, and Ichikawa Yaozo III as Yoshibei, in the shosa " Fukyoku Edo Geisha

The Actors Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro, Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Oiso no Tora, Azuma... 1784
The Actors Sawamura Sojuro III as Soga no Juro, Osagawa Tsuneyo II as Oiso no Tora, Azuma Tozo III as Miura Katagai, and Otani Tokuji I as Danzaburo, in the joruri "Chidorigake Koi no Tamaboko

The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII as Onio Shinzaemon and Onoe Kikugoro I as the courtesan U... 1744
The Actors Ichimura Uzaemon VIII as Onio Shinzaemon and Onoe Kikugoro I as the courtesan Usugumo in the play " Nanakusa Wakayagi Soga

A Banquet in a Pleasure House on the Bank of the Okawa (Okawa bata giro jo no yusen), c. 1792

Flower Viewing, 1711 (reprint of 17th century work). Creator: Hishikawa Moronobu
Flower Viewing, 1711 (reprint of 17th century work). Attributed to Hishikawa Moronobu

Two Geisha Holding a Shamisen and a Song Book, c. 1777. Creator: Kitao Shigemasa
Two Geisha Holding a Shamisen and a Song Book, c. 1777. Attributed to Kitao Shigemasa

After a little music, from an untitled series of 12 erotic prints, c. 1673 / 81
After a little music, from an untitled series of 12 erotic prints, c. 1673/81. Attributed to Hishikawa Moronobu

Perspective Picture of a Large Room (Senjojiki uki-e no zu), 1765. Possibly a scene in the pleasure quarters, with a shamisen and koto in the foreground. Attributed to Ishikawa Toyonobu

Courtesan Watching Her Attendants Playing with a Ball, c. 1765 / 70
Courtesan Watching Her Attendants Playing with a Ball, c. 1765/70. Attributed to Suzuki Harunobu

A Professional Buffoon, from an untitled series of 12 prints, c. 1710. Attributed to Torii Kiyonobu I

Women on a Pleasure Boat, c. 1790. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
Women on a Pleasure Boat, c. 1790

Festivity at a teahouse, from a parody of Chushingura, c. 1797 / 98
Festivity at a teahouse, from a parody of Chushingura, c. 1797/98

Pleasures of the Seasons, c. 1700. Creator: Hishikawa Morohira
Pleasures of the Seasons, c. 1700. People enjoying a day out among blossoming cherry trees

The Hobby Horse Dance (harugoma odori), c. 1750. Creator: Ishikawa Toyonobu
The Hobby Horse Dance (harugoma odori), c. 1750

A Parody of Yuranosuke in the Pleasure Quarters... late 18th-early 19th century. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
A Parody of Yuranosuke in the Pleasure Quarters (Mitate Yuranosuke yukyo), late 18th-early 19th century

Viewing Cherry Blossoms at Goten Hill, c. 1787. Creator: Hosoda Eishi
Viewing Cherry Blossoms at Goten Hill, c. 1787

The Entertainer Tamino and the Serving Girl Nui of the Sumiyoshiya, c. 1792

Flower-Viewing Party with Crest-Bearing Curtain, from the series "Flower Viewing at
Flower-Viewing Party with Crest-Bearing Curtain, from the series " Flower Viewing at Ueno (Ueno hanami no tei)", c. 1681/84

Picnic Party at Hagidera, c. 1785 / 95. Creator: Katsukawa Shuncho
Picnic Party at Hagidera, c. 1785/95. Women and children relax on a day out: trying to catch a cricket to put in a cage; smoking a kiseru, playing the shamisen

Drums and Shamisen, Japan, n. d. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
Drums and Shamisen, Japan, n.d

Chinese Beauties at a Banquet, Japan, 1788 / 90. Creator: Kitagawa Utamaro
Chinese Beauties at a Banquet, Japan, 1788/90

Dreaming of the Heron Maiden, Japan, c. 1771. Creator: Komai Yoshinobu
Dreaming of the Heron Maiden, Japan, c. 1771

A Beauty Behind a Screen, Japan, About 1750. Creator: Miyagawa Choshun
A Beauty Behind a Screen, Japan, About 1750

The Hana-no-en Chapter from "The Tale of Genji"(Genji Hana-no-en)
The Hana-no-en Chapter from " The Tale of Genji" (Genji Hana-no-en), from a series of Genji parodies, c. 1710

Ebisu flirting with a courtesan, no. 3 from a series of 12 prints, c. 1708

An Impossible Feat by Imaginary Men, no. 8 from a series of 12 prints, c. 1708

Parody of Palace Attendants Burning Maple Leaves to Heat Sake from " The Tale of Heike", c. 1750

Cooling Off on a Summer Evening, c. 1715. Creator: Okumura Masanobu
Cooling Off on a Summer Evening, c. 1715

Courtesan entertaining Daikoku and Fukurokuju, no. 10 from a series of 12 prints, c. 1708

Meiji Dance Recital, 1880s. Creator: Sessei
Meiji Dance Recital, 1880s. New members of the dancing and musical schools are presented to the public during spring. The man in the hat at right is a European

Itinerant female musician, from the triptych "Series of Three (Sanbantsuzuki)"
Itinerant female musician, from the triptych " Series of Three (Sanbantsuzuki)", Japan, c. 1830

Set of Three, Love Birds in Three Kinds of Music (Sampukutsui hiyoku no san kyoku), c. 1748

Hotei Reading a Book, no. 11 from a series of 12 prints, c. 1708

Cooling Off in the Evening at Shijogawara, c. 1784. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
Cooling Off in the Evening at Shijogawara, c. 1784

An Actors Boating Party on the Sumida River, c. 1789. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
An Actors Boating Party on the Sumida River, c. 1789

A Party Viewing the Moon Across the Sumida River, c. 1787. Creator: Torii Kiyonaga
A Party Viewing the Moon Across the Sumida River, c. 1787

Entertainers, c. 1764. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
Entertainers, c. 1764

A picnic under cherry trees, c. 1755 / 64. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
A picnic under cherry trees, c. 1755/64

Entertainers performing the hobby-horse dance, c. 1764. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
Entertainers performing the hobby-horse dance, c. 1764

The Harugoma Dance, c. 1764. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
The Harugoma Dance, c. 1764

The Soga Festival, c. 1768. Creator: Torii Kiyomitsu
The Soga Festival, c. 1768

The Eighth Month, from the series "Twelve Months in the South (Minami juni ko)"
The Eighth Month, from the series " Twelve Months in the South (Minami juni ko)", c. 1784

The Fourth Month, from the series "Twelve Months in the South (Minami juni ko)"
The Fourth Month, from the series " Twelve Months in the South (Minami juni ko)", c. 1784

Iris Garden, c. 1781 / 89. Creator: Katsukawa Shuncho
Iris Garden, c. 1781/89

The Actor Sawamura Tamagashira as a Strolling Musician in the Play Dai Danna... c. 1790
The Actor Sawamura Tamagashira as a Strolling Musician in the Play Dai Danna Kanjincho, Performed at the Kawarazaki Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1790, c. 1790

The Actor Segawa Yujiro I in an Unidentified Role, Japan, c. 1775. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Yujiro I in an Unidentified Role, Japan, c. 1775

The Actor Yamashita Kosasaburo, Japan, c. 1720. Creator: Katsukawa Terushige
The Actor Yamashita Kosasaburo, Japan, c. 1720

Two Itinerant Musicians, c. 1765 / 70. Creator: Suzuki Harunobu
Two Itinerant Musicians, c. 1765/70

Lovers Playing the Same Shamisen (parody of Xuanzong and Yang Guifei), c. 1767

Act 7 (Shichidanme), from the series "The Revenge of the Loyal Retainers (Chushingura)", c. 1834/39. Kuranosuke attends a banquet at Ichiriki-ya, a teahouse served by courtesans

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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.