Wearing a Katsugi

Making the Strap

Attaching the Strap

Back to Making an Okedo

One of the advantages of a katsugi, or small lightweight okedo, is that the player can wear it while dancing or parading. This is known as the ka kai e style. Katsugi straps are usually attractive and comfortable. They lace to each head of the drum and is worn over the right shoulder.

I have used suede, cotton, and brocade for my straps. They are between 10cm (4 inches) and 15cm (6 inches) wide. I use shoelaces for the attachments.

The strap folded along the side of the drum.

I constructed my straps as two layers with padding (Pellon) sandwiched between them. The ends were folded around to form tubes in which to insert the attachment ropes. The attachment ropes pass through the ends of the strap, and through two of the tuning rope holes around the drum head.

I haven'y prepared a step-by-step demonstration, but here is a diagram for constructing a shoulder strap for an okedô.

Attaching a strap to your katsugi is pretty easy. Slip the lace on one end through s rope hole in the front head and tie it. Then, slip the other end through the back head offsetting it about three or four holes up. The strap anchoring on left side should be higher than the right side. See the images below.

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