Experience making an instrument used in "Kokiriko," Japan's oldest folk song, handed down in Gokayama | Sasara weaving experience

The sasara is one of the instruments used in the oldest Japanese folk song, "Kokiriko." We will introduce you to an experience plan where you can make your own sasara.

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Gokayama Nanto Tourism Organization

We promote the charms of Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, both domestically and internationally. Located in the southwestern part of Toyama Prefecture, Nanto City is blessed with abundant nature that changes with the seasons, and is a place where the original landscapes of Japan and the good old traditional culture of Japan remain vividly present. Gokayama, known for its Gassho-zukuri villages, is truly a "living World Heritage Site," where people live while maintaining their own unique culture. The scattered villages spread across the rice fields are also one of the special landscapes unique to this region. Johana, which prospered from silk weaving from the medieval to early modern periods, and Inami, known for its wood carvings, are steeped in rich history and culture. From Fukumitsu, where Shiko Munakata lived, to Fukuno, which flourished as a market town, to Iguchi, the village of camellias, and Toga, which promotes theater and urban exchange, the satoyama (rural landscapes) of Nanto are always full of travel charm, and the people welcome you with warm smiles.

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The sasara is one of the instruments used in the kokiriko. Dancers hold the sasara in their hands and strike it while dancing. The sasara is made simply by tying together 108 small boards of the same size with three strings.
The sasara you make in the sasara weaving experience will have 72 planks, and is slightly smaller than the sasaras held by dancers. Two strings are placed around your feet and pulled to hold the planks in place, then another thin string is used to weave the planks in place.

If you tighten the boards too much when weaving them to prevent them from coming loose, it may be difficult to produce a good sound when you finish weaving. Also, making sure that the tightening force is consistent between the beginning and end of weaving is also one of the keys to producing a good sound.
Even though it's a small size, it can be too tight or too loose when you're not used to it. You might think it looks easy when you see an experienced craftsman knitting while chatting, but beginners may end up knitting and undoing it over and over again. With the help of the craftsman, the finishing touches are completed without a hitch.

The sasara produces sound when the planks of the instrument collide with each other in a wavy manner. As the instrument is used repeatedly, the gaps between the planks become more even and the wavy motion becomes smoother.

Kokiriko Folk Crafts Official Website

Written by

Gokayama Nanto Tourism Organization

Toyama

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