That’s a long thread title, I know. Has anyone here read or perused this new addition? I’ve had a copy of the first edition for years, but I’m curious to see what Mr. Groemer has added! I met him at the Hirosaki and Kanagi shamisen taikai in 200…8, I think(?). Nice, interesting fellow.
Hi Mike,
I haven’t seen you since Kanagi in 2005 or 6, I think, when you played that tasty version of Tosa no Sunayama!
I knocked out a quick review of Gerald Groemer’s new book in this thread a while back:
The new edition has about 60 extra pages of information that Groemer unearthed since publishing the first edition, which really fleshes out certain parts of the history and makes it all hold together better.
You’re in for a treat!
Yeah I haven’t wanted to admit this to people here on bachido cause I didn’t want to make anyone too jealous but I got the New edition of Groemers book as well! The Spirit of Tsugaru! So stoked cause I could never figure out what happened to my old copy of the original edition of that book. New edition is friggin awesome! The cover looks so much better and yeah extra material ! I have to admit I have not had a ton of time to read much of it lately but am planning to do so as soon as I find myself with an afternoon or two to kill.
By the way Happy Birthday, Mike Penny and thanks for being a Great Dad!
Wow… So I figure with all the excitement here I would jump on.
I have been wanting to pick this up for quite a while. And im starting to feel more and more like this is the time to do so…
Congratz on being a dad mike 
nice to finally see post #2, as i was the one to steal your bachido post virginity.
The new book looks awesome, I’ll hafta look into getting it around my birthday hopefully. Same with the old copies, but are the books in english aswell?
bought it while i was in hirosaki, and yeah, was pretty worth buying. I havent ever seen the first version so dont know the difference, but I definitely liked the read.
now if i can only figure out how to go from the musical notation to the actual shamisen tab, that would be tre awesome… but that requires some studying i dont really have time for right now.
OK, I’m not familiar with this book at all. So I’m thinkin’, “sounds fascinating.” Cuz, you know, it sounds…fascinating. So I go to Amazon intending to buy a copy, right? But… Hello! They’ve got it listed for over three hundred bucks! [CHOKE!] Um, what? Am I doing something terribly wrong here? Or has the Amazon server been hacked by some trickster god, or something? Cuz that seems just a teansy bit cost prohibitive.
Uh, so anyway…yeah…like, whenever I come across a copy that costs less than a rebuilt transmission I’ll definitely pick it up, no worries. Unless that’s what you guys paid. Then…I suppose I’ll bite the bullet.
They’ve got it listed for over three hundred bucks! [CHOKE!] Um, what? Am I doing something terribly wrong here?
Those are nothing but speculators on old rare book. Just look for new edition.
ha that old version is over £1000 on Uk amazon
If anyone wants to get the book from a library instead of buying it for an arm and a leg (which does make it harder to play shamisen, you know… :-D), you can try here - http://www.worldcat.org/title/spirit-of-tsugaru-blind-musicians-tsugaru-jamisen-and-the-folk-music-of-northern-japan-with-the-autobiography-of-takahashi-chikuzan/oclc/231823480. Put in your city/location, and it will tell you which libraries near you have copies of it (and, I think, which edition it is).
a couple of days ago I have reactivated my university library card (after settling a bill of 36 euros for overdue book return fees still open from the year 2003) whether this may also be the first step towards picking up and like actually finishing my business administration university thing I can’t say yet
ANYWAY alghough this card is only valid at the main university I think I should also get one for the music and arts university library that got books and notations and stuff I could very well imagine they got something about shamisen too so I am really looking forward to that too . . . yeah
Mike Penny! You are a tease! I just finished an epic marathon of viewing almost all of Mike’s videos in a single day! It was crazy folks. I’m now considering making a New topic post here on the forum dedicated to the Penninater himself and his latest works, In hopes of getting him to join us more here on Bachido. If anyone has something to share with bachido it’s the MPO! Hallelujah !
Sorry for the delayed response, Kev. I’m lame, I know. I think Bachido is a truly amazing and revolutionary shamisen resource and I’d very much like to be more present on here, so I’ll do my best!
You know what would truly make up for the years of absence?
A Bachido Article by Mike Penny!!! 
Am I right, brah??
DUDE! Synchronicity is at work here. How funny that I just sent Mike Penny a PM echoing those exact words. Just suggested to mr. Penny that he write something for bachido too. After sending out the PM I closed it up and heard a “you’ve got mail beep” on my iPad . when I opened it up I find that Mr. Abbott was writing the same words to the same person at the same moment from another part of the world.
Amazing!
Oh nothing amazing about that. I’m actually you! Remember when we were both born out of that chair at the Spanish izakaya ‘Spoon’ in Sapporo? Well, it’s no coincidence, my friend. Oh wait, or should I say, ‘it’s not coincidence, my me!’
Sounds like someone has been drinking one too many of my Uncle’s famous smoothies!