Hibiki Ichikawa and Guests: An Evening of Tsugaru Shamisen and Japanese Folk Songs

The Daiwa Foundation is pleased to present an evening concert of Japanese folk music. The only professional Tsugaru Shamisen player resident in the UK, Hibiki Ichikawa from Ishikawa Prefecture will perform traditional Japanese folk songs along with his own original compositions. The Tsugaru Shamisen is a stringed instrument which originated in Aomori, Northern Japan and is derived from the Okinawan sanshin but is larger and has a distinct rhythmical, percussive sound. Improvisation is characteristic of the Tsugaru Shamisen playing style. Hibiki will also introduce his instrument, its history and the origin of the songs he plays. Vocal accompaniment will come from Akari Mochizuki, an enka and  minyou singer, and Hibiki will also be joined by one of his students to play a duet.  This event is a rare opportunity to encounter Japanese folk music in the UK.

Admission Free but booking is essential at www.dajf.org.uk/bookin