Near Palaceside Building, in Kitanomaru Park, a lingering, soft, sweet tone drifted among the trees. It was the sound of a musical saw, an instrument shaped like a Western saw. Yes — a metal plate bowed with a violin bow or struck with a mallet, the same instrument the Yokoyama Hot Brothers used in manzai, tapping out "O-ma-e-wa a-ho-ka" for laughs.
Playing with a contrabass bow was Koji Suzuki (84) of Otowa, Bunkyo Ward. He has been captivated since he met the musical saw in 1993 (Heisei 5). With no method books or classes, he learned almost entirely by watching and imitating. "Unlike a piano, there is no keyboard; you change pitch by how hard and at what angle you bend the metal, so I practiced while checking by ear," he said. He lost his wife, who had practiced shigin, three years ago: "My wife, who had a good ear, was my best teacher." He is sometimes invited to play at care homes and local events, and is said to be good at slow pieces such as "Yoimachigusa," "Kojo no Tsuki," and "Kage o Shitaite."
On fine days he pedals his bicycle to Kitanomaru Park, the plaza before the Imperial Palace, and nearby parks, and practices alone in the shade. "Outdoors the sound does not get muffled, and it feels good," he said, playing the musical saw with pleasure to karaoke accompaniment from a portable radio. Kitanomaru Park also seems a fine place for amateur musicians to practice alone.