“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
– Confucius
geisha/Maiko performing with Tsuzumi drum. Japan between 1914 and 1918.
Hemp Hop
A couple puffs and one is at harmony with nature. In Japan, a instrument is used that makes this harmony literal…
Dating back to around the 5th Century, the Tsuzumi drums played in Japan have a special tie with nature… Hemp…
Japanese Tsuzumi Drum – Lacquer-covered cherry wood, powdered gold, animal skin, Hemp rope and iron and hemp fittings – late 16th-early 17th century – Momoyama period (1573 – 1615) Edo period (1615 – 1868)
The Tsuzumi drums have a hourglass shaped wooden body that are double sided, covered by skins that are pulled tightly together with the help of Hemp.
The Hemp rope is wound through eyelets in the drum skins and pulled tight until completely around the drum. When played, the Hemp rope can be squeezed by the player to raise or lower the pitch of the beat.
Kozaburo Tamamura – Geisha playing Tsuzumi, Japan 1910 (notice the kimono being used to tighten the second tsuzumi)
Closely resembling the African talking drum, the Tsuzumi drums are used in Japanese folk music called min-you and many forms of Japanese theater including my favorite, The Geisha’s!
The Geisha’s along with their apprentices the Maiko’s, would hold the lower pitched smaller tsuzumi on their shoulder while the larger tsuzumi would sit between the legs or to the side.
Maiko with two Tsuzumi a Taiko and a Koto 1900
With the harmony of life buzzing all around us, Hemp lets you both experience and express the pulse of nature!
Geisha entertaining inside a Teahouse, Tokyo 1920s