any japanese here? need help for a shamisen purchase.

[bosone]

hi!
i will go to japan soon and i have plan to buy a used shamisen. i have already found the shop thanks to some non-musician friends i have there but they were not helpful in somem ore specific questions.
but i will also need an hard case to transport the shamisen on the plane. since it will be very hard to be understood (i doubt people there will speak english...), is there some japanese speaking musician here that can tell/write me how to ask for an "hard case" for the shamisen?
also, how it is called (in japanese) the special "plectrum" used to play the shamisen?
what about the strings?? how are they called?
are guitar strings ok for the shamisen?

thanks a lot for any help!

[PALU]

Not japanese-speaking, but:

- plectrum is called "bachi"
- guitar strings won't work with shamisen. Traditionally strings are made of silk, but today they are made of nylon.
- from Wikipedia - "The construction of the shamisen varies in shape and size, depending on the genre in which it is used. The bachi used will also be different according to genre, if it is used at all. Shamisen are classified according to size and genre. There are three basic sizes; hosozao, chuzao and futozao. "

It would best to take a Japanese speaking friend, because it's hard IMHO to communicate in English there. Maybe very general things, but not specifics about shamisen .

[skipscada]

As a backup, a photo of a shamisen hardcase should be enough of an explanation, don't you think?

[bosone]

yes, i thought also about bringing a printed picture...

also, are guitar nylon strings ok!?