A beautiful, well-made Shimakabe sanshin passed down from an acquaintance to the owner 40 years ago. The owner inquired about the maker, but the person who gave it to them wouldn't reveal the information, saying only that the maker was a young, genius sanshin craftsman. It was made using striped ebony floor pillar material from an old folk house. The ebony is quite solid. The neck is straight and in good condition. It has a thin, transparent finish, which has resulted in numerous small scratches. There are no cracks or major splits. The overall construction is superb, especially the exquisite curve of the tama (decorative piece) on the top side. The elegant, refined chest and the evenly carved underside of the nails, along with the beautifully straight core construction, are all remarkable. It's a great pity that the craftsman's name is unknown. It has a char-wood chiga (body) with an artificial skin, eight-tenths stretched drum. This sanshin produces a soft tone. Sanshin like this are rare and therefore valuable. A must-see for those looking for a sanshin with beautiful craftsmanship and design. Please consider. This is a sale of the instrument only. https://ameblo.jp/34doumakiya/