| Tsugaru Shamisen Live by Hibiki Ichikawa |
| Sunday, 19 February 2012 00:00 |
Tsugaru Shamisen Live by Hibiki Ichikawa
Two stunning performances of Tsugaru Shamisen by Hibiki Ichikawa, with accompaniment from enka singer Alika Mochida. Unlike Standard shamisen, Tsugaru Shamisen has a dynamic and soulful sound originating from the Tsugaru (Aomori) district of Japan. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy the unforgettable sound of live Tsugaru Shamisen together with minyo, or Japanese folk song, and enka, modern Japanese blues. Hibiki Ichikawa
Hibiki was born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan. At the age of 20, he started playing the standard Shamisen and a year later, impressed by the richness and variety of sounds of the Tsugaru Shamisen, he started his training under Master Akihiro Ichikawa. He has been performing at a number of events and concerts such as WOMAD 2010 and JAPAN MATSURI 2010 & 2011 in the UK and his performances always attract large audiences.
Alika Mochida
She started singing enka when she was three. She studied drama and modern music in the UK and started working as a professional singer in 2009. She has performed as an enka & minyo singer on many occasions such as WOMAD 2010 and Japan Matsuri 2009 & 2010. She is passionate about introducing everything great about Japanese folk music to local people and is always seeking opportunities to sing. |
