This 22-minute educational film explores the history, construction, and performance techniques of Japan’s three major traditional instruments: the koto, shamisen, and shakuhachi. Through ...

Born in Ibaraki Prefecture, Agatsuma Hiromitsu began playing the Tsugaru shamisen at six and quickly gained acclaim, winning numerous competitions in the traditional Japanese music scene.

According to Tanaka Takafumi, editor-in-chief of Hogaku Journal, which focuses on traditional Japanese music, "the shamisen is now on the brink of crisis as demand shows no sign of picking up ...