Mitsune (jp/de)

Traditional Japanese music with folk elements

Japanese folk music group Mitsune combines traditional instruments with oriental blues, rock and movie music. At the heart of Mitsune's sound, known for its energetic live performances and fascinating style of dress, is the shamisen, a 16th-century Japanese string instrument that lends itself to both fast-paced and more delicate expressions in the hands of the band's leading figures, Shiomi Kawaguchi and Youka Snell.

Mitsune modernises the shamisen tradition by performing their own versions of Japanese folk songs and their original compositions. The music in this concert combines virtuosity, powerful rhythms and emotional group vocals. On stage, Mitsune offers visual fireworks where the traditional meets the avant-garde. The band, which has wowed European festival and concert audiences, will now perform in Finland for the first time.

"Consistently excellent. If you need a contemporary introduction to the world of Tsugaru shamisen, this is it." - Songlines, 2019

Shiomi Kawaguchi – Shamisen, Vocals, Shinobue
Youka Snell – Shamisen, Vocals
Tina Kopp – Shamisen, Vocals
Petros Tzekos – Percussion
Daigo Nakai – Bass

Concert duration: approx. 1.5 hours, no intermission.

The concert is produced by the Savoy Theatre