BEAMS JAPAN and Chinton
We've created a limited-edition model in collaboration with BEAMS JAPAN.
BEAMS JAPAN is a store dedicated to shining a light on Japanese tradition, craftsmanship, and culture — working alongside artisans and makers from across the country to bring a wide range of distinctive products to the world.
We're proud to have joined with BEAMS JAPAN to create this exclusive Chinton.
A Chinton Made from Hita Cedar
The most distinctive feature of this limited model is the neck, which is made from Hita cedar grown in Oita Prefecture.
The standard Chinton uses a hinoki cedar neck, but for this collaboration we used Hita cedar — a first for Kikuoka Sangen. Hita cedar is grown in the Hita region of Oita Prefecture and is known for its straight grain and beautiful coloring.
Cedar has a softness distinct from hinoki, and the feel in the hand is slightly different. The material also shapes the sound in its own way, giving this model a character all its own — one that differs noticeably from the standard hinoki Chinton.
Working with a new material always involves some uncertainty — you can't fully know what the sound will be until the instrument is finished. But drawing on years of experience with different woods in shamisen making, we were able to bring out the qualities of the cedar and craft an instrument that sings as a Chinton should.
A Special Edition with the BEAMS JAPAN Logo
The BEAMS JAPAN logo appears on the sound membrane and on the tenjin (the peg box at the top of the neck). The tenjin logo is laser-engraved — subtle but unmistakably special.
The accessories are the same as the standard Chinton: the Mt. Fuji-shaped pick and a simple stand. The set also includes a beginner's score for "Sakura Sakura," so you can start playing the day it arrives.
A Word from the Makers
Creating this Chinton together with BEAMS JAPAN — a store that genuinely values Japanese craftsmanship — meant a great deal to us.
The Chinton carries forward shamisen-making traditions while making the sound of Japanese strings accessible in everyday modern life.
Having this instrument on the shelves of BEAMS JAPAN — in their shops and online — means it can reach people who might never have encountered a shamisen or traditional Japanese instrument before. That's something we find deeply meaningful.
The decision to try Hita cedar as a new material was itself made possible by this collaboration with BEAMS JAPAN.
Rooted in shamisen craftsmanship, always open to new materials and design possibilities — that's the spirit we want to keep carrying forward.
The BEAMS JAPAN limited edition is available through the BEAMS official online shop.
We also create fully custom Chinton models featuring a company or brand's logo, character, or artwork. We're happy to discuss materials, design, and anything else — please don't hesitate to get in touch.