Experiencing“Tsugaru”

 

Takumi Yamaya

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Tsugaru-shamisen Japan Championship is considered to be the toughest competitions in which there are times when the winner is not decided. Despite this fact, Misao Habu placed first at the 7th championship. On the award certificate, the below was written:

“The soul of Tsugaru could be heard through each bachi sabaki (plectrum technique)”

I have once asked a famous Nebuta (festival floats) maker which work of his was the greatest. He then replied, “It would be the very first Nebuta I made because I put everything into creating it”.

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There’s no doubt that Habu poured all kinds of emotions with her inner turmoil towards Tsugaru for her first CD release. Through the thick low-hanging clouds, the drifting snow off the plains, and the brilliant rays of the summer sun. Gunpachirō Shirakawa, Rinshoei Kida, Masakatsu Fukushi, and Chikuzan Takahashi. Just like Habu, the predecessors of shamisen also fought through their struggles to play Tsugaru-shamisen and created their own style of playing.

 

While I was lost in these thoughts, I played the CD I had received in the mail. I could already feel and hear the sounds of Tsugaru with just the intro and there was no doubt about it once Habu’s shamisen inflamed the singer’s voice to become even more powerful.

 

As I was mid-way through the CD, I came to a realization. Habu was not struggling or fighting. Through the three strings of her shamisen, she was “experiencing” Tsugaru and playing with nothing but joy.

It was then when I imagined Habu smiling, skipping through the once thick snow.　

 

Executive Director of the Tsugaru-shamisen Japan Championship