RobBright 35 Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Quote: Full article and picture here (Japan times). http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100803f2.html ************************************************* Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010 Saga town promoter drums the bowls to belt out perfect vibes SAGA (Kyodo) A Saga Prefecture musician who performs "wankin" — a special way of playing music by hitting porcelain bowls so they resonate in musical notes — has ascended to stardom. Tuning in: Musician Takashi Tsutsui gives a "wankin" performance in the town of Shiraishi, Saga Prefecture, in May, using xylophone sticks to play Aritayaki porcelain bowls. KYODO PHOTO Requests for performances by Takashi Tsutsui are coming not only from local event organizers but from nationwide groups as well. Tsutsui, 58, has another career. He is the tourism promotion chief in the town of Arita, Saga Prefecture, known for its Aritayaki porcelain products dating back to the 17th century. By lining up 31 different types of bowls of the traditional brand on a table, with each tuned to resonate in a certain note, Tsutsui hits them with xylophone sticks to make music. "Everybody has a memory from childhood in which he or she was scolded by mom for hitting rice bowls with chopsticks during dinner," Tsutsui said. "This is an unusual way to play music but a good way to promote Aritayaki." Tsutsui said his most popular performance is Beethoven's "Fur Elise," which has even caught the attention of German groups, who have requested performances. The sound of wankin — a combination of "wan" (bowl) and "kin" (harp) — is considered by many people to be soothing. Tsutsui started practicing wankin eight years ago after he received 14 Aritayaki bowls from the now deceased president of a local tile maker who had played the music by using his own tile products. Tsutsui's bowl collection has since expanded to 31 — enough to cover 2 1/2 octaves. However, he said, it has been hard to find bowls that resonate precisely in a desired frequency. Even with the same shape, bowls don't sound the same, the effect of subtle differences in production, he said. Tsutsui said he has tried nearly 5,000 bowls in his search for the right ones. "Actually, some bowls are custom made," he said. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 actually, I'm pretty good at Wankin' myself!! Should see those bowls resonate when I bash away!! Link to post Share on other sites
js 0 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Yes, it's up there with: 1. Wii - c'mon, to the english speaking world that's just bad product naming. 2. Toyota Racing Development (pronounced TRD) sounds like ... TURD! Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 I think Wankin' is way better than Wii. It is a classic. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Never participated myself of course. Link to post Share on other sites
KlingKlang 1 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Do people pay to go see him wankin'? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 yeah, he is quite a wanker Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted August 5, 2010 Author Share Posted August 5, 2010 Quite a long performer too. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 It's all in the wrist action. Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Wonder how he got so good at it? Just practice? Link to post Share on other sites
pickled mushhead 0 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 At least once a day. Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 How often does he perform? Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Do we have any clips of him wankin'? Link to post Share on other sites
scouser 4 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 I see he is 58. I wonder until what age do people generally enjoy wankin? Link to post Share on other sites
Schneebored 0 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Quote: The sound of wankin .... is considered by many people to be soothing. Maybe I should take up wankin to soothe my misses to sleep? haha....this never gets old Link to post Share on other sites
RobBright 35 Posted August 6, 2010 Author Share Posted August 6, 2010 Originally Posted By: scouser I wonder until what age do people generally enjoy wankin? It's fun for all ages, from 10 to 100, and can be enjoyed by men and ladies. Link to post Share on other sites
Schneebored 0 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Originally Posted By: RobBright Originally Posted By: scouser I wonder until what age do people generally enjoy wankin? It's fun for all ages, from 10 to 100, and can be enjoyed by men and ladies. I never knew ladies wanked! Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 So this guy does his wankin' in public then? Link to post Share on other sites
BagOfCrisps 24 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Try asking them nicely Schneeboard.... Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 I missed this one. Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 This wankin' certainly sounds like a lot of fun. Anyone tried? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 yeah, Thursday has, in fact I have it on good authority that he's quite the wanker! Link to post Share on other sites
Nisoko 6 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Naruhodo. Not done any wankin' yourself then TB? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted August 27, 2010 Share Posted August 27, 2010 Oh I've given it a whirl once or twice and I'm getting pretty good at it. Some people have labelled me a "Wanker" but 'm not quite at that level just yet Link to post Share on other sites
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