I decided to take lessons from new shamisen teacher.

Finally I finished my diary about my summer vacation.

I want to write about my decision for starting shamisen lessons with the new teacher from now.

In September, my original shamisen teacher’s teacher asked me whether I could help him to create his website.

I replied that of course, I would help him.

As I had written about my impression of his performance in my previous diary, it was my pleasure to help him.

He also asked me, if I would like to take his lesson. It was no problem.

To tell the truth, I was worried about my original shamisen teacher from whom I have been taking shamisen lessons since 5 years ago.

If I would take my shamisen teacher’s teacher’s lesson, surely my original shamisen teacher would feel uncomfortable.

So I frankly told him about my concern.

He answered that if I would take the same style of lesson from him, it must be rude to my original teacher.

However if I would take a different style of lesson from him, it would be no problem.

Actually he can teach various styles of shamisen lessons to his pupils.

Usually I receive lessons on Japanese folk songs, which style is generally called Minyo.
Minyo have been sung all over Japan for a long time, and the songs’ themes are about work, life and love for families and lovers.

Minyo’s historical background is based on poverty and people’s simple life styles.

Even tough now Minyo are sung on stage, and on TV, they are really based on Japanese people’s simple life style in the past.

My teacher’s teacher also can teach another style of shamisen lesson, which is called Hauta.

Hauta has been sung since the Edo period. The sound of Hauta is more cool than Minyo.

Still now, Hautas are sung by Geisha at high quality restaurants.

If I sing Hauta playing the shamisen and wearing a kimono, I think people would view me as a typical Japanese.

Let me return to the story about my teacher’s teacher.

In the end, I started to receive his Hauta style lesson.

I think Hauta is more difficult than Minyo, because Hauta’s tone is very different from Minyo. However I want to learn it more deeply.

In addition, I also wanted to know about the traditional customs of the shamisen world, so I asked him some questions about them.

He explained to me politely about those customs.

I also told him about my complaints against the traditional customs, which I had had for a long time.

He not only explained about such customs but also told me his opinion.

I was very surprised and could know about his passion for the shamisen.

Further more, luckily I could know about his background as a shamisen player deeply, because I am going to create his website.

Since I was requested to make his website, I sometimes follow him to his activities to take photos.

The purpose is not only to take photos, but also to learn his technique and about his shamisen world.

I think I’m really lucky.

I had believed that he was just a strict teacher, however I noticed my misconception.

I know most of his pupils complain against him secretly.
Most of their complains are about money and his furious temper.

He is not good at explaining his opinion, and his pupils also never ask him about money and the reason for his opinion.

What a shame it is that they can’t communicate deeply.

I want to help my new teacher by creating his website.

For him, the purpose of having his own website is to get more pupils, however, for me, the second purpose is to explain to his pupils about his activities and opinions.

Of course, he told me that he would pay me the cost of making his website, but I also need to pay for his lessons.

Actually my salary is not so high, so it’s my solid decision to learn the shamisen more seriously.

I believe, through studying shamisen, I can learn not only about the shamisen world and playing techniques, but also I can learn many new things.

The following image is of his website.