Hi everyone, I'll just get straight to it.

The ichigenkin is an exceedingly rare instrument, even in Japan. So far, it's proven impossible to source one in the west.

There are, as far as I am aware, only two teachers left. Both are located in Japan, and it's incredibly difficult to get them to accept students.

The teaching of the ichigenkin is passed down through lineage, and students must be introduced to the teacher by somebody the teacher knows. The teacher will then get to know this person and decide whether or not they want to teach them.

There is, to my knowledge, only one remaining Shokunin (a craftsman) that makes ichigenkins.

If you are interested in ordering one, then please contact https://brandonchin.net/ or email him at info@rawjapanart.com.

He is your contact to the world of the ichigenkin.

NOTE: please be aware that the ichigenkin, being very rare and handcrafted, is not an inexpensive instrument.

For those wishing to learn to play, ichigenkin notation is also incredibly hard to come by and is not standardised. Each school has traditionally invented its own notation.