THE ART
What youngsters go through to master a traditional craft or art.		  
           
           
        Interview with young performers
        10-year-old Yusaku Shibutani

Question: Why did you start learning the tsugaru shamisen?
Answer: I went to see a performance at Yamauta in Hirosaki two years ago and I was really impressed. When I said I wanted to learn to play, my uncle (Kazuo Shibutani, Mr. Yamada's top apprentice who won the national tsugaru shamisen competition for three straight years) lent me a shamisen.

Q: What do you like most about the shamisen?
A: The sound. It's really powerful and resonates throughout your body.

 
         
        Q: How do you practice?
A: I go to Yamauta every Saturday for lessons with Mr. Yamada. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to Aomori Station from my house and about 50 minutes by train to Hirosaki Station. Yamauta is located right outside the station, so the trip takes a little more than an hour each way. After practice, Mr. Yamada lets me play in the opening number for the performance at Yamauta as part of an ensemble, and so I go home after that.

Q: How long have you been performing at Yamauta?
A: After studying for a year I learned to play a piece called "Atohadari" from beginning to end. This is the song that's always performed to open the show. I asked Mr. Yamada if I could join the ensemble on stage, and he said yes. I made a lot of mistakes, but Mr. Yamada would show me how to play better. Recently, I haven't been making as many mistakes as I used to, but I've still got a long way to go.

 
         
 
          Q: What do you think of Mr. Yamada as a teacher?
A: He's very kind and easy to understand. When I was just starting out, he would take my hand and show me how to use the bachi (pick). Because it's really big, it keeps slipping out of my hands. I hope to get better soon.

Q: Has learning the shamisen changed you in any way?
A: I used to be really shy about expressing myself, but now I raise my hand a lot at school.

Q: What are your future goals?
A: There's national contest in May 2000, and I'm planning on entering it. I don't have any plans beyond that, but someday I'd like to perform a duet with my uncle.

 
   

Photos (from top): 10-year-old Yusaku started learning the shamisen three years ago; Yusaku copies the playing of his teacher, Chisato Yamada.