I always was a music enthusiast and a few years ago I also became a huge Japan geek (I´m even studying Japanology now). So someday in 2014 I searched for “japanese heavy metal” or something on Youtube and stumbled upon Kevins great cover of Metallicas Master of Puppets. I was completely blown away by it. After I looked more in the topic I found several other great Shamisen artists, like the Yoshida Brothers and Takahashi Chikuzan. The Tsugaru style of playing caught me with its energy and passion and I decided I wanted to play this instrument. Following Kevin I found out about Kyle and Bachido and joined right away. The only problem was, that I had no opportunity to buy a shamisen or even find a teacher here in good old Germany. With these problems and graduation etc. going on I stopped pursuing this dream. Now after around 1 1/2 years I started listening to more shamisenmusic again and was again enchanted by this awesome instrument (even if it was Nagauta and Jiuta this time). around a month ago I decided I would join the party here on Bachido again and FINALLY get myself a shamisen. So I ordered a Nagauta-shamisen, which is on its way from Osaka to me right now!
I´m really looking forward to learn and have a great time with you guys here 
Hey Gunnar! Thanks for watching my Master of Puppets Shamisen cover. Welcome to the world of Shamisen!
I find great amusement when I hear a song that I think would sound good played on a shamisen, search YouTube for “song title shamisen” and the first result is Kevin playing the song I was looking for on a shamisen. It never fails!
Seriously ? Wow! That’s cool! I take request too so if there’s one that you want to hear that hasn’t been done yet just let me know!
For me, it all started in narita airport back in 2009 when I was just starting my time as an exchange student. I heard the wonderful sound that was shamisen and soon found the yoshida brothers. Couple months go by and I actually gained more interest learning about agatsuma, other players (who I dont know because I cant read their names then or now lol), and of course you kevin! I asked both of my first 2 host families to help me find a place/teacher to learn. Nothing against them but they obviously didnt look very hard considering I was an exchange student in Hirosaki shi 
but it was when I was staying with my 3rd host family when they pulled through and found a someone to teach me (they even payed for the lessons I had with a man by the name of sawada). This was closer to the end of my exchange unfortunately so I didnt get really good but I had learned a couple songs. However there was no way I was going to leave without the biggest souvenir of all, my own shamisen. Noting that this was before bachido therefore I wasn’t to optimistic about being able to get one one I had left. So I used the money that my grandfather was going to give me for college to buy my own shamisen from tada atsushi (http://tsugarushamisen.jp/) lol. Since I have had an on and off again but mostly off relationship with the instrument bringing it with me to every place I have moved.
I’m playing stringed instruments since childhood. In 20 years of classical and Jazz guitar I also had Cello lessons, got Mandoline, Ukulele, Banjo and Charango (peruvian) as well and had a few great years of Tabla lessons (well, not stringed but drums 
). I was also quite fond of japanese culture quite a while e.g. practicing Chado. To combine this I two interests I really wanted to learn Shamisen. So I got an instrument but no teachers in my country could be found. But I was not alone. We built a small group to practice together and invite teachers to Berlin. Now I’m playing for over 2 years, visiting Ichikawa Hibiki in London as often as possible, and having the greatest of times with my group in Berlin with the greatest of guys. (- YouTube)
(- YouTube)
I love that this thread is still alive. Sorry for the long post. It’s been a fun trip that took some interested turns to end up at the shamisen.
My shamisen adventures started with drums. Garage/basement rock bands in high school and college. Chinese lion dance troupe drumming in college and adulthood. My love for drums eventually introduced to taiko into my life. Through taiko I started listening to “traditional” Japanese music where I first heard the shamisen. Then a little Japanese company ran a commercial in the US that had a really awesome soundtrack.
I recognized the instrument, but it was played in a way I’d never heard before. The percussions and effects were very modern, but the style of tsugaru shamisen alone hooked me on the Yoshida Brothers. So I started researching. I searched for “How do I get a tsugaru shamisen” on the internet which provided this gem of advice.
Initially it was kind of a bummer because I couldn’t (still can’t) speak Japanese, couldn’t travel to Japan and didn’t live in the LA area. But the desert bound Mike Penny also told me about a book by one Kyle Abbott. By purchasing that book I learned a whole lot more about tsugaru shamisen and discovered bachido.com. Now I was really hooked.
I’ve been playing with St. Louis Osuwa Taiko for about four/five years and through my connections there I was able to find a local shamisen teacher in St. Louis about a year ago. Once I found a teacher, I decided to go all in and purchase a tsugaru shamisen. Now I’m learning from my teacher and playing with her minyo group while watching Bachido webinar videos to pick up on tsugaru focused songs and techniques.
I’m still amazed I was able to find a teacher in St. Louis, let alone the midwest, but it’s great that communities like is exist so anyone anywhere can learn about this awesome instrument.
I love this thread - Yoshida Brothers is what got me started on my love for shamisen as well.
I’m coming to shamisen via shakuhachi…I teach ethnomusicology for a community college and I am a professional Irish flute player. Last year I started taking shakuhachi lessons and found a used shamisen in a Tokyo second hand shop…5000 yen. Needless to say it isn’t very playable…the action is terribly high. Sooooo, I am not waiting for my new “beginner’s” shamisen from Bachido. I played Irish tenor banjo/mandolin for many years, so I am hoping there will be a transverse exchange of skills!!