Arts & Entertainment

Japanese Folk Music Delights Briarcliff Rotary

Briarcliff Manor Rotary Club members were introduced to a Shamisen at Friday's meeting.

From the Briarcliff Manor Rotary Club:

Mr. Toshi Shishido, a Tsugaru-jamisen master, came to the meeting of the Rotary Club of Briarcliff Manor on Friday Aug. 16th to give us a flavor of this ever popular form of Japanese folk music. Shamisen is a three stringed instrument played with a fan shaped striking stick with which a rather loud sound is possible.

Thugaru-Jamisen is often associated with northern Japan where the instrument accompanied many local folk songs.

Kozan Oyama, Mr. Shishido's stage name signifies that he is an accomplished master teacher of Tsugaru-Jamisen in the style of Oyama. He and his assistant Ms. Mai Tsuboi performed several Japanese folk music along with the demonstration of how this instrument can be broken into pieces for an easy travel.

The Briarcliff Rotarians were delighted at this opportunity to experience first hand a taste of Japanese music and meet the maestro.

View a video of the performance here.


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