Emerald Dream
The doukake is a hardened shell attached to the side of the dou (body) on which the arm rests. While it's purpose is protecting the shamisen's skin from sweat and the dou from wear, it's other important duty is giving your shamisen an extra touch of beauty! There is no other doukake more beautiful and protective than the Emerald Dream, personally hand-crafted by Kyle Abbott!
Dipped in Glass
Each Emerald Dream is hand-lacquered with a super hard resin that glistens with a "dipped in glass", mirror-like shine. It is very durable and will keep your shamisen protected while looking simply stunning! Prepare yourself for the oncoming compliments!
The Emerald Dream (Contents)
- Emerald Dream Doukake (Tsugaru size)
- Faux Leather Cord
- Bonus: The Bachido Saofuki (Red/Blue)
Order the Emerald Dream!
Important: Please read before purchase.
The Emerald Dream (Doukake)
The Story Behind the Dream
Exploring the lush forests of Aomori filled my senses with wonder and excitement! Sparkling with a newly fallen Spring rain, the forest glowed with a cool, relaxing aura. As I climbed up a hill, my ears piqued at the sound of tatakibachi (percussive shamisen playing) in the distance. Is it possible? Did my ears deceive me?
I followed the distinct percussion until I came to a vista overlooking Lake Towada. The sunlight shone through the trees and casted itself on a solitary shamisen player sitting on an gnarled pine fence, solidly striking each note of her shamisen and seemingly playing for the majestic lake. Though the shamisen player’s eyes were closed, you could almost feel the intense focus dwelling within. I silently sat on a rock and listened to her play, enjoying the resonant pulses of the shamisen tone in the air while watching her long hairs dance in the cool Aomori breeze.
After finishing her piece, she caught my presence and turned around without opening her eyes. Curious, I walked closer. Could she be blind? Is she one of the last remaining goze (blind shamisen player) in Japan? All of the sudden she looked up, revealing two brilliant green eyes. Shazam! I came closer, entranced in the deep beauty of those green eyes, shining like jewels in the light. It felt as if diving into a bottomless pool with an infinite wonders nestled in the depths!
As if sensing myself getting lost in her eyes, she raised her bachi high in the air. The force of wind increased and it seemed that all the nature around her was building up, ready for the drop of her bachi on the strings! With an intense gaze, she looked at me one last time and uttered, “Wake up Big K, it’s espresso time!” And with that, her arm swung down, striking all three strings ‘Jyajyajya~n!’ The whole landscape flashed and I awoke in my bed! The entire experience was just a dream, yet the spirit resonating from her deep green eyes was unmistakably real. For weeks, the memory of the green-eyed shamisen player lingered. So vivid, so fresh, and unable to escape from my memory.
To capture the essence of this memory, I set forth to create a lacquered doukake that sparkled in the light with the same brilliance I saw in the shamisen player’s green eyes. It took almost a year of trials to achieve a “Dipped in Glass” quality for this lacquered doukake, but I eventually figured out a perfect method for creating a hardened shell that would adorn the shamisen with the beauty of her green eyes! I present to you, the Emerald Dream.
