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Played by the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan to accompany ritual, song and dance, the tonkori an instrument on the verge of extinction by the 1970s. Today it is being revived as an important part of Ainu heritage. The star shaped soundhole contained a ball that gave the instrument its soul.
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Title: Tonkari (トンコリ)
Date: late 19th century
Geography: Japan
Culture: Japanese (Ainu)
Medium: Wood
Dimensions: L. 30 × W. 3 in. (76.2 × 7.6 cm)
Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-unfretted
Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
Object Number: 89.4.133
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