Japan
Japanese

Shell, metal
ca. 1920’s-1930’s
Length: 21.625 inches  (52.5 cms)
Aerophone – Wind Instruments Proper – Lip Vibrated

The horagai is a conch horn from the Charonia tritonis of Japan. The player holds the shell in both hands, with fingers of one hand inside the opening. Sometimes the performer speaks into the mouthpiece. Overblowing produces different pitches and several mnemonic terms are used to represent the sounds. The horagai is known especially in Buddhism, and has been used as a signaling instrument or during rituals to call deities, in addition to performance in some folk performing arts. Historically, it was also blown during battle. Now it is often  found in off-stage kabuki music to signify historical battle scenes.

This rare horagai is from the Meiji era a time of Japanese history which extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.