I’m back!
Hey everyone! Whew, it feels like ages since I’ve been on the forum! This month has been quite an adventure. As I said in the New Year’s Newsletter, I intend to lead more real life workshops and performances, to try in order to create a real life community just like what we enjoy on the Bachido.com. As it turned out, Bachido member Takahashi san was going to be in California for leading some Taiko workshops. We work together well, so she generously agreed to join me in leading several Bachido shamisen workshops in CA and to see how far we can take this whole shamisen thing!
We started with a workshop in San Jose, which we had the pleasure to be joined by Adrian Crovetto!
Next week, Adrian, Takahashi san and I headed up to San Francisco to lead another workshop there! Unfortunately, the only picture I took was on the train ride up there. Afterwards, we went to Sacramento where Takahashi san lead a great Okedo workshop and I taught a few folks ukulele.
The fun didn’t stop! Next week, Takahashi san and I took the bus down to LA, where we met up with my coffee sensei James Ong (who recently joined in the forum). That night, we did some mall busking!
http://imgur.com/h2OxlNe.jpg
And the next day, we headed to Asano Taiko, where we were joined by the shamitastic Mike Penny! It’s been about five years since we met, so it was great to hang out. Some folks from a local taiko group came for the workshop too. Twas a lot of fun!
Soon after returning from LA, we took the overnight train to Tucson (Arizona), where Karen of Odaiko Sonora invited us to perform at the Yume Garden. My dad was born and raised in Tucson, so it was nice to see the area.
During the next few days, we played at some different venues (including a delicious sushi shop).
And lastly, the beautiful Yume Garden! (Video will come) It was a delightful concert. Well attended and well received!
After a delightful time in Tucson, we took the overnight train back to California and slumbered well.
And with that, owari! It was a really great tour. I think and hoped that we inspired many people to start shamisen. In any case, I know that we’ve inspired Sid Sidaphus to start leading a shamisen workshop in Japan, and that’s really encouraging!! 
Hopefully it will inspire many more members to lead workshops or demonstrations in their area! 
I do believe that it is possible to create local shamisen communities in our towns. Let’s all see what we can do!
I’ll be back here more regularly, and am really happy to see everyone thriving!
Bachi on!!
Kyle
Haha, just kidding, looks as if it was great fun, and it was so amazing to see you two again.