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Biwa sketch.jpg

薩

Sunrise at Ibusuki

摩

THE

琵琶

SATSUMABIWA

lute of the Samurai

Satsumabiwa

Satsumabiwa is a lute used with narrative arts that originated in the southern part of the Japanese island of Kyushu in the early 16th Century specifically to instil the highest virtues in the warrior class. Drawing from 30 years of performing and study, the author introduces the instrument, its history, music and philosophy through a narration of this journey.

A new Satsumabiwa from Fumon

Aug 224 min read

A new Satsumabiwa from Fumon

The face board was made of mulberry wood. The grain of the wood caught my attention because it had black lines through it.

Amadera ya - Construction of Biwa - the big "Why"

Aug 54 min read

Amadera ya - Construction of Biwa - the big "Why"

the person traditionally associated with the creation of the Satsumabiwa in the mid-16th century was a Confucian scholar, Shimadzu Tadayoshi

Amadera ya - the different kinds of Satsumabiwa

Aug 13 min read

Amadera ya - the different kinds of Satsumabiwa

The modern Satsumabiwa in both its forms, Nishikibiwa and Tsurutaryu Satsumabiwa, has become the default instrument in modern compositions

Amadera ya - a newly composed work for solo Satsumabiwa by Elif Karlidag (2024)

Jul 184 min read

Amadera ya - a newly composed work for solo Satsumabiwa by Elif Karlidag (2024)

a serene and atmospheric scene of a women's temple adorned with mosquito nets, set against the backdrop of a moonlit evening....

Himeyuri Corps - a tragedy 哀史姫百合部隊

Jul 145 min read

Himeyuri Corps - a tragedy 哀史姫百合部隊

A translation of the song Himeyuri Corps 姫百合部隊

Beyond a song – the tragedy of the Himeyuri

Jul 45 min read

Beyond a song – the tragedy of the Himeyuri

...the whole tradition can't be summed up in this way. Recently, I came to understand these texts in a more nuanced way.

Moon-rise on Ohsumi

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