Hello everyone,
My name is Hibiki Ichikawa. I am based in London. I have been living here since Feb 2011. I am still struggling with speaking in English… Anyway,
I have recently become a member of Bachido.
(some of my students are already the members of this group)
I would like to introduce one of my students, Henry. He plays his own Jonkara.
He has been playing the shamisen just for 2 years.
I hope you like it and his shamisen skill gets improved more…
Hello Hibiki!
Welcome to Bachido, and the Bachido Forum! Yes, we have heard much about you from many UK based members. I’m very glad to have you here. 
Nice! Henry’s doing well for only two years of playing. Did he create this Jonkara himself?
Thank you for introducing yourself here. One of these years, I hope to go to the UK for a shamisen event, so hopefully I will meet you soon.
All the best,
Kyle Abbott
Oh! Michael’s kouki shamisen has finally been sent a few days ago. If the post office cooperates this time, he should finally receive it very soon.
welcome to bachido! more members are always welcome. see you around the boards hopefully
Whoa! nice playing Henry!!
Anyway Hibiki, your English has improved loads since the very first phone call we had :)… now i have to go and practice Shamisen…
Hello Kyle,
Thank you for the comment.
Actually I heard about you from my best friend, Jack. You are very keen to play the shamisen!
Henry plays the Bass guitar as well. So his original phrase is quite unique! Of course, I taught some phrases to him when he created his own Jonkara.
I hope to meet you and Bachido friends in near future!
Hibiki
Hello Chris,
Thanks for the comment!
My students suggested me to join Bachido.
Keep in touch.
Hibiki
Hi Pete,
I hope to compete with you and Henry with our Jonkara someday.
Anyway, I have to improve my English more…
Ohhh!!! Jack Matsumoto?? What a small world! He’s a really really nice guy, and it was terrific that he could join us in Team Bachido last month. I was enjoying his Unknown Rooftops CD recently.
Yes, I have been playing for about 6 years, I don’t think I will stop. 
Ah, interesting! Yes, learning other instruments influences yourself in another instrument. He’s doing great, and it sounds like you are a good teacher to him!
Me too! Oh, if you have any plans to perform in California, please let me know!
Koninichiwa, Hibiki-san!
Yes, probably you don’ really have to talk about yourself a lot, I’ve seen your youtube a lot, now you are world famous!
I play shamisen in New Zealand with my partner (he is a New Zealander), and as long as we know of, there are no one else who plays shamisen here (well, at least in public) , so the market is vast, we really want to introduce our instrument more and wish we could have more companies to play together one day.
You are an inspiration, I know you are an only professional shamisen player in London. I’m pretty sure lots of people over there knew shamisen through you and are enjoying sharing Japanese culture and music.
We wish you all the best, really look forward to seeing new youtube vids sometime in the near future!
Sayuri
Hello Hibiki !
It is very nice to see you on the forums, how have you been doing since we last met? I remember Henry playing on stage he is a very good shamisen player.
I am trying to practice more and more on my shamisen. Hibiki do you have a song you would recommend for me to learn on my Minyo Shamisen? I was considering Soran Bushi but I am unsure.
あなたはよくやっている願っ!
Welcome to Bachido Hibiki!
I have come across your name many times lol.
Sayuri san,
Thank you for the message. Actually I have read your blog a few times. I was surprised that you put your original skin on the shamisen. I wish I could to do that like you…
One of my students, Pete Blair(He is a member of Bachido too) is New Zealander. He lives in Amsterdam now. He went back to his home town to work. I should have contacted you before he came back to Amsterdam…
I would like to meet you and play the shamisen together in the near future.
これからも宜しくお願い致します。
Kind regards,
Hibiki
Hi Cana,
Thank you for the comment. How have you been?
I hope you are well. I am glad to hear that you are still keen to play the shamisen!
I think Soran Bushi is a good song to start with. I can send you the notation if you like.
I hope to see you soon.
Thank you,
Hibiki
I noticed how it was a unique performance, which is awesome because you keep hearing the same stuff all the time. Is Henry going to join Bachido?
Hi Liam,
I have heard your name since I came to England. I hope to perform with you sometime soon!
Hi Karl,
Thank you for the comment. He is a high school student in London.
He wants to live in Japan at some point.
I am not sure if Henry knows this forum, so I can certainly talk to him about Bachido.
Hi, I was meaning to comment on Henry’s Jongara - yes, as some people already mentioned, I like his unique western tune too ( I really enjoyed Grant’s Jongara at Taikai too!)
Wow Hibiki-san, so many bachido members are posting here, we are all excited to have you here obviously!
Look forward to seeing your posts more in the future!
Sayuri
Oh, and I have seen Henry’s post here sometime ago…thought he’s already a member of Bachido? He was posting his performance with Hibiki-san together, If I’m not wrong…
Ha awesome! Really enjoyed Henrys playing by the way, Hope to jam with you guys soon.