The Spirit of Japan: A Collection of Famous and Popular Shamisen Pieces
The shamisen is the quintessential traditional Japanese instrument.
Of course, it’s used to perform classic pieces, but it’s also a highly versatile instrument that shines in solo performances of intense songs and in collaborations with rock bands—traditional yet packed with showmanship.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of songs that feature the shamisen.
We’ve included everything from older works to the latest tracks!
If you’re thinking about starting the shamisen, you might find this helpful—so be sure to read to the end!
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- [Classic and Contemporary Hits] Emotionally Stirring, Heart-Touching Songs
- [2013 Japanese Hit Songs] Masterpieces that Colored the Ama-chan Boom, Group Popularity, and the Band Scene
- [Local Songs] Recommended tracks packed with Japan’s nationwide classics and hometown pride
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[The Spirit of Japan] Shamisen Masterpieces and Popular Songs (1–10)
Sweet EsquivaYutaka Koyama meets Yusuke Shima
A track from the session-style collaborative work “Yutaka Oyama meets Yusuke Shima,” featuring Yutaka Oyama, the third-generation head of the Oyama school of Tsugaru shamisen, and trumpeter Yusuke Shima.
It’s a miraculous fusion of jazz and traditional Japanese instruments.
I’ve often heard that it’s extremely difficult for traditional Japanese instruments to adapt to the distinctive rhythms of Western music, but Oyama’s shamisen arrangement is truly masterful.
Far from feeling any mismatch, I find myself so absorbed that I start to think this might be the original way Tsugaru shamisen was meant to be played!
Kuroda-bushiFujimoto Kanenosuke
Kuroda-bushi is a folk song from Fukuoka City in Fukuoka Prefecture.
It originated as a song sung by samurai of the Fukuoka Domain, known as Chikuzen Imayō, and later spread throughout Japan.
Its roots lie in Etenraku Imayō, in which various lyrics were set to the gagaku melody Etenraku.
When performed on the shamisen, there are two styles: solo instrumental performance, and accompaniment supporting vocals or other instruments.
Akita Nikata-bushiHana Wa Chie
“Akita Nikata-bushi” is a renowned Akita folk song distinguished by its delicate, rhythmically articulated high tones.
The performer, Chie Hanawa, is a formidable talent who, at the age of 17, became the youngest champion at the 2000 All-Japan Tsugaru Shamisen Competition.
While still a student at a music university, she made her album debut, and has since been active in a wide range of settings, including a command performance at the Imperial Palace, overseas concerts, and ensemble projects with shakuhachi and violin.
[The Spirit of Japan] Shamisen Masterpieces and Popular Songs (11–20)
horizonKoji Nagamura
“Horizon” was selected as the theme song for an Ishikawa TV special event program.
With band accompaniment, it’s an upbeat piece that deftly expresses both stillness and motion.
It brilliantly embodies the evolving yet tradition-respecting culture of Ishikawa Prefecture, as well as the event’s festive spirit.
The performer, Koji Nagamura—also a member of the Tsugaru shamisen ensemble Shippu—is a highly skilled musician.
ZERO TO ONEKUNI-KEN
KUNI-KEN is a Tsugaru shamisen rock duo known for their intensely hard-hitting, cool sound, composed of brothers KUNIAKI (older) and KENJI (younger).
Released to mark their 15th anniversary, ZERO TO ONE is an exhilarating track whose driving momentum is powered by the thunderous resonance of the shamisen.
Yosakoi BushiA trial performance by Sansui-en
A folk song handed down in Kochi Prefecture.
It is known by the title “Yosakoi-bushi,” taken from the final chant-like refrain, but both the origin of that refrain and of the song itself are unknown, and its history has not been pinpointed—making it a piece with surprisingly many mysteries.
On top of that, many lyrics spread and took root as improvised verses, giving the song an intriguing allure that becomes more elusive the more you learn about it.
With deep roots as an ozashiki song, it is often sung with only shamisen accompaniment, and even with such a simple backing, it can fully evoke the proper atmosphere as a folk song.
The Four Seasons of TsugaruErina Endo
Tsugaru no Shiki (The Four Seasons of Tsugaru) is a roughly 10-minute-long piece that delicately portrays the changing seasons.
It is based on a characteristically Tsugaru-style folk melody and even weaves in familiar phrases like Akatonbo (Red Dragonfly).
The performer, Erina Endo, is a shamisen player who has been active both in Japan and abroad since a young age.
She is also well known beyond the world of shamisen, serving as a host-reporter for Aomori TV’s Fushigi Series, among other roles.