The February event organized by the Exchange Planning Department was “A Spectacular Performance of Tsugaru Shamisen and Calligraphy.” Although it coincided with election day and the morning brought snowy weather—raising concerns about attendance—the venue was nearly full. The event kicked off with the powerful sounds of Tsugaru Yosare-bushi.
After a performance that included stories about the Tsugaru Shamisen—such as its history of around 150 years and the fact that while regular shamisen are made with cat skin, Tsugaru Shamisen uses dog skin—the event continued with a collaboration between shamisen and calligraphy.
The powerful yet sometimes delicate sounds of the Tsugaru Shamisen blended with the art of calligraphy to create a live performance of music and writing that was truly moving, earning applause from everyone in attendance.
