Hello all! I’m a college student, and for my world music course, I’ve decided to focus on the shamisen for my term paper. I was wondering if any of you would be able to answer me a few questions about the history of the shamisen and its link to storytelling and theatre.
The only contact info I would use is your name.
Thank you!
James Morgan
I’m mostly a Tsugaru style player, but I do have an interest in nagauta (the style used in Kabuki theater) as well as the use of shamisen in debayashi ensembles for narrative forms like Rakugo (or solo for Joruri), plus the Tsugaru genre has a history of narrative songs used for storytelling, though they’re less common nowadays. I’ll do my best to answer what I can 
Excellent, can I PM you?
Also, anyone else, please feel free to answer my questions as well - the more answers the better
Answers sent! 
hope they were helpful.
I’d be happy to oblige.
Thanks Christopher, I’ll PM you
Nagauta is my specialty. I will be happy to answer any questions.