Kankara sanshin
The or (literally " from a can") is a Japanese three-stringed folk plucked instrument, initially an improvised derivative of the Okinawan that was developed in the Ryukyu Islands during the Shōwa period. Like the wooden-bodied , the is an inexpensive alternative to other, professional Japanese lutes – namely the and the similar, albeit larger . Unlike the , however, the was invented much later and served a much different purpose historically. History. The originates in the period following the World War II Battle of Okinawa. Okinawans, including men detained by the American military, made use of metal cans discarded by the  Americans, and used them as the body for improvised . A similar type of can-based was made by Japanese-Americans in internment camps in the United States during the war. Since World War II, have become popular as inexpensive alternatives to the or , and professional or makers have begun to craft them and include them in their stores, online and in catalogues. The itself has also evolved to some degree, with certain makers creating more ornate instruments with hand-painted frontal designs and the decorative wrappings that are a feature of the proper. DIY "build-your-own" kits are also  readily available. Construction and components. The following is a list of basic components that normally make up a , with Japanese phrases that refer to the English terms in and parlance: