My Diary Again...また日記！！　　　　15 September 03　　　　　　　 9月15日03

Many people think that the Okinawa sanshin and Japanese shamisen(3 flavour strings) are one and the same. But there is actually some differences. Firstly the sounds are different, to me, the sanshin sounds are deeper. Also, the skins used in making them are different too. In Shamisen, usually, cats and dogs skins are used to make the cover while for sanshin, snake skin is being used. (Habu?). A cheaper version of sanshin can be made by using man-made skin. There is yet another cheaper one, the kankara sanshin which is 'the sanshin from the can'. It is very interesting but i will tell you more next time.

Anyway, Teacher Azama was really kind enough to spend time to teach me the basics. Before that i had read up some information from the Internet about sanshin and i was really scared of the music notes. The music notes are not in do-re-mi, neither are they normal notes, they are actually made up of chinese characters each representing a different sound...But when i touch the sanshin i felt really excited, the feeling was wonderful and i told myself i had to overcome the fear of these notes in order to be able to play!

I spent about slightly less than 2 hours (eating time included) trying to master do-re-mis and i did it! Although i can't play any song yet but i learnt the basic notes. Teacher was very patient though he drank many orion beers during my slow and tedious practice. My aim is to learn to play 2 of my favourite songs before my 22nd birthday! This is the goal for this year! My 2 favourite songs are 'warabigami' and 'nadasousou'. Both are extremely gentle and meaningful!

Why am i interested in sanshin? It is a very difficult question...Perhaps,i love Okinawa, and to keep the memories i spent there in my heart, i want to learn something that will connect me to it, I was also very touched when i first heard Sanshin live performance by staff of Nirai Kanai sometime ago. Somehow, my heart was dokidoki from that moment onwards, so i would like to try to learn. I am a music moron, i have totally no experience of sense with music, but this is one challenge i would like to overcome.

Lastly, thank you very much to Teacher Azama, Hiro-san of Nirai Kanai for playing for me "warabigami" (special preview because normally they start playing only late at night), and Kuninaka san for loan of sanshin and all staff of NiraiKanai who prepared wonderful food! (Nashibi!! Soki Soba!! Negisauce Karaage!)..and also Daisuke for loan of Koja Misako CD.

日本語で簡単に翻訳します。こんにちは！昨日始めたの三線勉強。三線のことしている？ちょっと紹介しますね！三線は、沖縄のギータ見たいです。沖縄の象徴と思ういます。三線の音すごく綺麗、心まで感動できる音です。三線は沖縄の文化ですよ。海人たち（おばあちゃんも、子供たちも）弾けるよ！三線弾くながら、民謡唄う。

沖縄三線と日本の三味線同じものと思う人いるかもしれないです。実は違うところがありますよ。先ず、音の違う。私にとって三線の音の方が低い。それで、三味線は、猫や犬の皮で作ります。三線はハブ？蛇の皮で作ります。もっと安いの三線は人造皮で作ります。後、1つ一番安いのは'カンカラ'三線。本当に"缶から作ったから、'缶から'と言うかもしれない。面白いけど、また今度、教えるからね！

安座間先生はとても優しいで、教えてくれた。その前、ちょっと自分で三線の情報見て、三線のエエ四すごく難しいそうですから、怖くなった。でも、三線触ると、とても幸せな気持ち感じましたから、怖くないで、fightする！自分に励ましてしました。

2時間（食事の時間入り）で、基礎なエエ四弾けるようになりました。ドーレーミとか。まだ歌弾けないけど、頑張ります！先生はとても優しいで教えてくれたけど、沢山オリオンビール飲みました。私の目的は22歳の誕生日まで、一番好きな曲”わらびがみ”と”なだそうそう”弾けるように！２曲も、意味深いし、綺麗です。

何で、三線気になりましたの？難しいなあ！〜私、沖縄大好き。それで、沖縄で過ごした時間、心に大切にしたいから、何が沖縄と関係あること勉強したい。初めて、ニライカナイで三線演奏聞いた時から、心まで感動しました。ドキドキだったよ。私、ぜんぜんmusicセンスがないけど、やってみたい！

最後に、安座間先生，ニライカナイのひろさん（わらびがみ弾いてくれたのに）と、国仲さん（三線借りてくれた。）あとあと、ニライカナイのスタフ全員、美味しい食べ物作ってくれた。。。（ナシービ、そきそば、ねぎソースから揚げ！）、後、大祐も！古謝みさこさんCD借りてくれた。

シンガポールで一番美味しい沖縄料理食べてみたい？ニライカナイへ！WANT TO SAMPLE THE BEST OKINAWA CUSINE IN SINGAPORE? GO NIRAI KANAI!