In a society where people are being less exposed to traditional folk music, musicians like the Yoshida Brothers are a great gateway into the genre as well as a breath of fresh air.

If you haven’t heard of them before, the Yoshida Brothers are a duo that plays the shamisen, a three-stringed instrument that was first introduced to Japan in the 16th century. And while shamisen music is now seldom heard outside the realm of traditional arts, the Yoshida Brothers have fused the traditional and modern to create shamisen music that sounds more familiar to the present generation while also doing justice to its deep history.

Made up of Hokkaido-born brothers Ryoichiro Yoshida and Kenichi Yoshida, the Yoshida Brothers made their major debut back in 1999, and have toured worldwide in countries including the US, Spain, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Fiji.

If you love what you hear, visit the Yoshida Brothers website for updates on their latest events!