The Tsugaru shamisen is a type of shamisen, a traditional Japanese musical instrument that originated in the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture.
The shamisen is a three-stringed instrument played with a plectrum called a “bachi,” and the way the Tsugaru shamisen is played is particularly unique.
The Tsugaru shamisen produces a powerful and loud sound through a variety of techniques, including striking the strings with the “bachi.
The history of the Tsugaru shamisen is long, dating back to the Meiji period (1868-1912). At that time, blind traveling entertainers in the Tsugaru region played the shamisen to earn money. At that time, a man named “Nitabo,” who lived in the Tsugaru region, was inspired by a blind female traveling entertainer to start playing the shamisen.
After much trial and error, he developed a method of playing the shamisen that was not an imitation of others, such as striking with a bachi. This technique was passed down to his disciples, who developed new ways of playing the shamisen.
Eventually, the Tsugaru shamisen became an important part of Aomori Prefecture’s culture and spread throughout the country. Today, the Tsugaru shamisen is so popular that many competitions are held.
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