Pit Workers in the Old Days #8 (2)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yamabito #8 (2)
[Pit Workers in the Old Days #8 (2)]
21.2 x 30.4 cm Ink Painting

There was a musical instrument called a kokyu very similar to a kokin (huqin in China). The kokyu had the same shape as a 3-stringed instrument shamisen but was smaller than the latter. It was played with a bow with horsetail strings in the same way as playing the 4-stringed kokin. It seemed that pit workers regarded the kokin and kokyu as the same instrument. The kokyu was seldom seen.
The clarionet (sic: instrument other than the clarinet) played by the man on the right was an instrument for boys and was so easy to play that every boy could play "Kimi ga Yo (Japanese national anthem)" with it. This instrument (made of tin) became more popular than toys around 1901 or 1902.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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