Tonkari (トンコリ)

Unknown

late 19th century · Wood · Musical Instruments

Played by the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan to accompany ritual, song and dance, the tonkori an instrument on the verge of extinction by the 1970s. Today it is being revived as an important part of Ainu heritage. The star shaped soundhole contained a ball that gave the instrument its soul.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 19th century

Medium

Wood

Culture

Japanese (Ainu)

Department

Musical Instruments

Credit line

The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889