Hiromitsu Kineya was born into a famous family of Nagauta shamisen players. His great-grandfather probably turned in his grave as Hiromitsu donned an outfit straight out of Star Trek and started playing shamisen with rock and rap. Well, he seems to have calmed down a bit and on his latest album is playing a jazz funk traditional fusion. Kineya wrote all the tunes and got on board well known J-pop arranger Takao Konishi to help out with arrangements, keyboards and programming. They then employed the talents of some great traditional musicians including National Treasures such as Hozan Yamamoto (shakuhachi), Bokusei Mochizuki (kozutsumi), Kisaku Katada (taiko), Wakasa Tsuruga (shinnuchi) and Tetsuo Miyata Tohon (nagauta). The J-pop/trad mix is an interesting concept and this albums brings together some of Japan's finest traditional musicians with one of the leading arrangers working behind the scenes in the J-pop world.

Keisho Ono is one of the new breed of shamisen players. Lightning fast, technically excellent and attracting a younger crowd to this traditional instrument. He started playing at the age of 8 and by the age of 14 was recognized by Chikuzan Takahashi as his successor. He performed at SXSW in Austin, Texas in 2006 and in 2008 is back with a new album and a new project that teams Ono up with two younger shamisen players. Shamisen riffs are accompanied by programmed beats and swirling synthesizer sounds. 11 tracks.

Price:   £18.99

Takeharu is a wonderful shamisen player and rokyoku (storytelling) singer. He developed a highly musical and entertaining style of rock 'n' roll shamisen and in 2003 went to East Tennessee State University for a year to study American traditional culture especially bluegrass. Aged 14 Takeharu had first heard bluegrass and the following year met Bill Monroe in Japan. In Tennessee he started playing his shamisen with a bluegrass band, which led to the formation of the group The Last Frontier. They toured in Japan and the US and recorded this album together. Appalachian Shamisen feels like an entirely natural combination, the result of years of absorbing bluegrass into rokyoku and shamisen. Brilliantly played, with loads of humour. Fantastic stuff.

Classic rokyoku storytelling from the shamisen playing and singing Takeharu Kunimoto. Third volume of five of his Koten Rokyoku series. Two parts of Chusingura, the revenge of the 47 ronin for the death of their master. 1.Murakami Kiken-Chushingura, Honden 2.Eikoku Mikkou

Price:   £15.99

Three tracks of Chushingura done in Kunimoto's unique rokyoku rock 'n' roll style plus two karaoke, including one with commentary by Kunimoto.

Ichimaru (1906-1997) was one of the greatest Japanese female singers. She helped to update traditional singing (hauta, kouta) into a modern style combined with American jazz and boogie woogie. She trained as a geisha, specialising in shamisen playing and singing under some of the great masters, inclduing Eijudaiyu Kiyomoto. She started recording in 1931, and performing for Japanese troops before the war. Following the war and the US occupation she became interested in jazz which she combined with the traditional music she had become well known for, including the hit song 'Shamisen Boogie-Woogie'. This CD compiles songs from her post-war period. 1.Tenryu Kudareba 2.Chakkiri Bushi 3.Ina Bushi 4.Ryukyo Kouta 5.Tokamachi Kouta 6.Yuki no Blues 7.Yuki no Hamamachigashi 8.Sumidagawa Zomeki 9.Shamisen Boogie Woogie 10.Hatsude Miyotote 11.Oedo Nihonbashi 12.Harukaze ga soyosoyo to 13.Ami wa Johi 14.Kasui 15.Kujo Hachiman Matsuri 16.Kirigirisu


Price:   £14.99

Latest album from the excellent tsugaru shamisen player, who has been around a lot longer than Yoshida Brothers, Agatsuma etc..but is still ahead of the game in terms of genuine talent and creativity. Seven tracks.

Yet another new album from the much hyped tsugaru shamisen player. This one includes tracks inspired by Japanese folk tales, children's songs as well as a tune for a TV drama and original tracks. The usual mix of shamisen and modern western backing.

Price:   £18.99

Hidehide are the two Hideki's, Ishigaki on shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and Onoe on shamisen. They have all the right credentials. Ishigaki studied under the great shakuhachi master Hozan Yamamoto while Onoe comes from a long line of shamisen players. Pop, rock and jazzy sounds played on Japanese instruments on a mixture of original tunes and covers including a version of YMO's Rydeen and the classic minyo Soran Bushi. Comes with DVD containing one tune.

Born in 1975, yet another young tsugaru shamisen player following the likes of Yoshida Brothers and Agatsuma. Keisho Ono's main claim to fame is he learnt from a student of the late, great Chikuzan Takahashi and at age 14 became the offical successor of Chikuzan Bushi. He plays his shamisen in a psuedo rock style and is accompanied by synthesizer and drum machine, the traditional tunes evolving into a sort of rock jazz fusion. Ten tracks including traditional tunes such as Tsugaru Jonkara Bushi, (3 versions) Aiya Hensokyoku, Tsugaru Jinku and original ones, Storming Blue, Umi and Spiral Loop.


Price:   £18.99

First album from sixteen year old shamisen player who became the youngest ever Tsugaru Shamisen national championships when he was aged eight! Nine tracks, mostly traditional, including the standard Jonkara Bushi, and a version of 'My Favourite Things'.

Over hyped shamisen playing brothers. 2 CD set of live recordings from their Japan tour November and December 2006. They are fairly popular (don't believe all the hype, they're not superstars in Japan) yet behind the image, ill advised collaborations and over produced studio albums are two great musicians which shines through here. 15 tracks.


Price:   £20.99

Yoshida Brothers are still, probably, tsugaru shamisen's biggest act and the CDs keep on comin'. This one features re-recorded versions from their early period together with a few new tunes and a few old minyo ones. Fourteen tracks.1.Prologue:Hishou 2.Ibuki 3.Kodo 4.Ringo Bushi 5.Ajigasawa Jinku 6.Yasaburo Bushi 7.Panorama 8.Tsugaru Yosare Bushi 9.Toki no Suna 10.Tsugaru Aiya Bushi 11.Modern 12.Dual 13.Tsugaru Jongara Bushi (Hishou Version) 14.Epilogue:Hishou

Michihiro Sato is one of the original new generation of tsugaru shamisen players along with Shinichi Kinoshita and is one of the featured artists on the Rough Guide to Japan CD. On this album he plays tsugaru shamisen standards along with original tunes. Guest musicians include Shozan Tanabe on shakuhachi (also featured on the Rough Guide Japan CD) Shigeri Kitsu (taiko) and Masaki Yoshimi (tabla).

Price:   £18.99

The tsugaru shamisen playing brothers of Ryoichiro and Kenichi follow on quickly with another new album. The 12 tracks include 5 original new songs, traditional folk tunes, a collaboration with a Japanese singer and covers of tunes by John Lennon and Brian Eno. There is something that smacks of quantity over quality. Nevertheless, even though they are marketed heavily and have trendy haircuts they're also excellent musicians.

Same CD as above except this limited edition has a DVD with video clip of the latest single 'Rising'.


Price:   £20.99

The tsugaru shamisen twins are back with a great new album, combining their traditional instruments with Irish uillean pipes are a host of other western instrumentation. Nevertheless, they manage to keep their own identity with some skillful production. 10 tracks, new and old including a version of the famous lullaby Takeda no Komori uta.

The tsugaru shamisen brothers latest album is their most experimental, and possibly best yet. There are some duets including the ever present standards, such as Jonkara Bushi, but what really sets this album apart is the wide range of collaborators, instruments and different types of music. Bass, drums, guitars, percussion, organ, violin, piano, even tablas and flamenco guitar, make for some original new mixtures on pieces that range from uptempo to gentle. Elsewhere, taiko drums and shakuhachi add a Japanese flavour. Stunning and stirring stuff.


Price:   £18.99

For their third album, the award winning tsugaru shamisen playing brothers perform original tunes, accompanied by wadaiko drums, bass, guitar and violin. A new and welcome departure that they carry off well.

Still in their early 20s, the Yoshida brothers are the new sensations of the Japanese traditional music world, achieving pin-up status with a new legion of fans. The brothers play Tsugaru shamisen, the style from the north of Japan with intricate and fast picking. This is their first album, excellent, but a little short at just over 30 minutes.


Price:   £18.99

Following the runaway success of their first album, Ryoichiro and Kenichi Yoshida release their second album. Including some percussion, this is every bit as good as the first, and is substantially longer at over 50 minutes. Despite the image and marketing (the CD comes with a calendar!) their talent as musicians is undisputed. For anyone who wants to hear the hottest act in Japanese traditional music.

Excellent recordings of traditional tsugaru shamisen tunes. Superb playing by one of the originators of the new tsugaru sound.

Price:   £18.99

Shinichi Kinoshita although still young, is considered the first of the new breed of exciting tsugaru shamisen players. He has played with Takio Ito and many more musicians. Rock in attitude and pose, traditional and brilliant in technique, and still making excellent albums. This is a re-release, no doubt in the wake of the latest tsugaru shamisen boom.

Another recent release by Kinoshita, fast plucking tsugaru shamisen. Includes, shakuhachi (flute) and other instrument concoctions on an album of modern tsugaru shamisen.


Price:   £18.99

Tsugaru shamisen master plays with Hungarian gypsy violin maestro Roby Lakatos. Interesting and effective collaboration.

Along with Shinichi Kinoshita and the Yoshida Brothers, Hiromitsu Agatsuma is the third musician to have made a name for himself overseas as well as in Japan performing the exciting tsugaru shamisen style from the north of Japan. On this latest album he plays his own compositions that take their inspiration from various minyo (local folk) tunes and styles as well as his own versions of minyo classics. His shamisen is accompanied by mainly taiko drums on an acoustic, largely traditional sounding album.


Price:   £18.99

One of the young tsugaru shamisen players currently making a splash on the scene, with various guest artists including Coba on accordion, best known outside Japan for playing with Bjork and Korean percussionist Kim Doksu of the world famous Samul Nori.

Agatsuma is one of the new generation of tsugaru shamisen players, who combines the fast plucking of the three stringed lute with rock, jazz, dance and other styles of music. It's a formula that has its limitations and shelf-life, but Agatusuma has consistently made interesting albums and this one, his sixth, is no exception. It's based around the theme of 'matsuri', local festivals, his shamisen accompanied by great percussion playing plus shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and other instruments. Ten tracks of both original and traditional tunes.


Price:   £18.99

At fourteen Agatsuma won the 1988 All-Japan Tsugaru-Shamisen Competition. On his second release, Agatsuma blends his many musical influences of jazz, rock fusion and Latin based grooves with traditional Japanese folk music.

Recorded at a New York church, an album of classic traditional tunes.


Price:   £15.99

Another young tsugaru shamisen player, although not from the tsugaru region. Great technique, some traditional and some more modern interpretations.

Tsugaru shamisen, a fast style of lute playing from northen Japan, is going through a renaissance at the moment, mainly due to the excellent Yoshida Brothers. Not surprisingly, there have been a few other young tsugaru shamisen players recorded, most notbaly 16 year old Masahiro Nitta. He won the All-Japan shamisen competition, and is probably better than the Yoshida Brothers, with some fantastic playing and a more diverse range of influences and guests, including from Mongolia. Brilliantly recorded and performed. Recommended.


Price:   £18.99

Second album from one of the best of the young Tsugaru shamisen players. Eleven varied and interesting tracks.

Latest album and first major release by shamisen kid. Not quite the impact and energy of the first, but still an excellent release, slightly more refined.


Price:   £18.99

Kazuhiro and Tenbi Fukui are a brother / sister tsugaru shamisen duo. This excellent album features eight of their best tracks of classic material plus the unreleased 'Yatsugatake - Midarebiki'.

RA is Toru Yonaha on Okinawan sanshin and Masahiro Nitta on tsugaru shamisen, probably Japan's two most popular folk traditions. Both are young innovators on their instruments, and on this album they perform their own original tunes.


Price:   £18.99

Another family duo- this time brother and sister combination on tsugaru shamisen. Great playing, the CD differentiates itself through interesting choice of material including a Russian folk song, 'Polyushko Pole' and an English folk song, 'Scarborough Fair' as well as more standard fare.

The two shamisen playing, taiko drumming twins formerly of Ondekoza. They begin with an ill advised, horrendous heavy metal collaboration with an American band, but things improve after that with drumming duets, an Okinawan collaboration wtth Rikki, shinobue flute playing and what they are best known for; tsugaru shamisen duets.


Price:   £18.99