The Shamisen also described as "syamisen" or "samisen" in English. And it also called as "Sangen" in some shamisen music genre. | It roughly divided into 3 types by its size and thickness of the neck. You are going to see thinnest one of all which called "Hosozao" Shamisen. The famous "Tugaru jyamisen" is a thickest one. |
Things you might see in the classroom. | |
 (From far left) Tenugui or Japanese Towel Bachi or Plectrum Hiza-ate or a rubber mat Yubi-kake or Lubricative Band | 
Yubikake It help your left hand slide on the neck. |
Wooden Bachi (left) Plastic Bachi with Bachisaya which protect edge of Bachi. | 
Pitch pipe It helps tune keys. |
 Strings or Ito(yellow one) Twisted silken string. Bridge or Koma.(white one) | 
(From far left) Ichi-no-ito, 1st string Ni-no-ito, 2nd string San-no-ito, 3rd string |
 Sensu or a folding fan. A lesson starts with bow and saying "Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu". People needs to put a fan front of them to show other a respect in a traditional Japanese manner. | 
And this is special fan for singers called Utasen. It has half size of a regular folding fans. Not for open or use as a fan, just hold it when we sing. |
Tsuyabukin or cleaning cloth. Wipe the Shamisen after each practices. If moisture or anything left on the Shamisen, it can be cause of breaking surface of the body. | |