• Ainu Tonkori, traditional Ainu instrument, Japanese Indigenous string instrument, Karafuto Ainu Tonkori, Sakhalin fir wood Tonkori, Ainu crafts Hokkaido, handmade Tonkori, Indigenous Japanese music instrument, Tonkori five-string koto, Hayasaka Masaga Tonkori, Ainu carving traditions, cultural instrument Japan, Tonkori music heritage, rare Japanese instrument
  • Ainu Tonkori, traditional Ainu instrument, Japanese Indigenous string instrument, Karafuto Ainu Tonkori, Sakhalin fir wood Tonkori, Ainu crafts Hokkaido, handmade Tonkori, Indigenous Japanese music instrument, Tonkori five-string koto, Hayasaka Masaga Tonkori, Ainu carving traditions, cultural instrument Japan, Tonkori music heritage, rare Japanese instrument
  • Ainu Tonkori, traditional Ainu instrument, Japanese Indigenous string instrument, Karafuto Ainu Tonkori, Sakhalin fir wood Tonkori, Ainu crafts Hokkaido, handmade Tonkori, Indigenous Japanese music instrument, Tonkori five-string koto, Hayasaka Masaga Tonkori, Ainu carving traditions, cultural instrument Japan, Tonkori music heritage, rare Japanese instrument
  • Ainu Tonkori, traditional Ainu instrument, Japanese Indigenous string instrument, Karafuto Ainu Tonkori, Sakhalin fir wood Tonkori, Ainu crafts Hokkaido, handmade Tonkori, Indigenous Japanese music instrument, Tonkori five-string koto, Hayasaka Masaga Tonkori, Ainu carving traditions, cultural instrument Japan, Tonkori music heritage, rare Japanese instrument
  • Ainu Tonkori, traditional Ainu instrument, Japanese Indigenous string instrument, Karafuto Ainu Tonkori, Sakhalin fir wood Tonkori, Ainu crafts Hokkaido, handmade Tonkori, Indigenous Japanese music instrument, Tonkori five-string koto, Hayasaka Masaga Tonkori, Ainu carving traditions, cultural instrument Japan, Tonkori music heritage, rare Japanese instrument
  • Ainu Tonkori, traditional Ainu instrument, Japanese Indigenous string instrument, Karafuto Ainu Tonkori, Sakhalin fir wood Tonkori, Ainu crafts Hokkaido, handmade Tonkori, Indigenous Japanese music instrument, Tonkori five-string koto, Hayasaka Masaga Tonkori, Ainu carving traditions, cultural instrument Japan, Tonkori music heritage, rare Japanese instrument
  • Ainu Tonkori, traditional Ainu instrument, Japanese Indigenous string instrument, Karafuto Ainu Tonkori, Sakhalin fir wood Tonkori, Ainu crafts Hokkaido, handmade Tonkori, Indigenous Japanese music instrument, Tonkori five-string koto, Hayasaka Masaga Tonkori, Ainu carving traditions, cultural instrument Japan, Tonkori music heritage, rare Japanese instrument
  • Ainu Tonkori, traditional Ainu instrument, Japanese Indigenous string instrument, Karafuto Ainu Tonkori, Sakhalin fir wood Tonkori, Ainu crafts Hokkaido, handmade Tonkori, Indigenous Japanese music instrument, Tonkori five-string koto, Hayasaka Masaga Tonkori, Ainu carving traditions, cultural instrument Japan, Tonkori music heritage, rare Japanese instrument
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Handmade Ainu Tonkori | Traditional Five-String Instrument from Hokkaido

Handmade Ainu Tonkori | Traditional Five-String Instrument from Hokkaido

  • Delivery: 7 to 90 days
$3,280.00 USD
$3,280.00 USD
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The Tonkori is a traditional five-stringed instrument of the Karafuto Ainu, an Indigenous people of northern Japan and Sakhalin. Carved from Sakhalin fir wood, the Tonkori is known for its long, narrow body and distinctive resonant sound. Unlike many string instruments, it is played without pressing the strings against the body, producing a soft, open tone often described as meditative and flowing.

In Ainu belief, every part of the Tonkori represents the human body: the head, ears, and neck are carved into the wood, while a small hollow called the “soul ball” is placed at the base, symbolizing life and spirit. The instrument is not only a tool for music but also a vessel of cultural memory. Traditionally, it is used to accompany dance songs, love songs, and songs imitating animal movements, tying music to both daily life and spirituality.

This particular Tonkori is crafted by Hayasaka Masaga, an artisan from a family of carvers whose work spans generations. Growing up surrounded by the carving and embroidery traditions of his parents and ancestors, he continues to shape each Tonkori by hand, preserving a rare art form. His hope is that more people will encounter, play, and keep alive this important piece of Ainu cultural heritage.

Because each instrument is handmade, the color and grain of the wood will vary, making every Tonkori unique. Its carved decorations are not only aesthetic but also serve as cultural markers, echoing patterns that carry meaning in Ainu tradition.

Lightweight and portable, the Tonkori can be displayed as a cultural object, used in performances, or studied as part of ethnomusicology and Indigenous arts.

 

Specifications

Maker: Ainu Crafts (Hayasaka Masaga)

Origin: Hokkaido, Japan

Technique: Ainu wood carving traditions

Material: Sakhalin fir wood

Size: 12.6 × 2.95 × 35.43 in (32 × 7.5 × 90 cm)

Weight: 2.2 lbs (1000 g)

Note: Avoid repeated wetting and drying.

Delivery: Ships in 1-3 weeks

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Handcrafted takes time. Every piece is made for you and packed for safe travel. Delivery may take 30 days or more.
Japanese collections can take up to 3 months because artists sculpt each order from scratch.
Uruguayan figurines arrive in 5 to 10 days, depending on availability.
Tracking is always sent upon dispatch.
The wait protects quality and value.

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