I'm amazed that, after my initial shock, I really liked shamisen music! It's intense. Is it popular in Japan, with young people?
----Shigeru
Shigeru----
What most Japanese now consider classical music, like shamisen and other traditional instruments, was actually considered sort of music-hall! Puppet theatre and geisha performers played shamisen.
Now, young women may study shamisen as a kind of okeikogoto, or finishing school kind of art, but the music isn't generally popular among young people. They prefer Hikaru Genji -- or have they gone out of fashion? -- and SMAP, those groups of young guys, cute and bouncy types.
Hikaru Genji sing on roller-skates. There are also young girl singers and often a slightly dangerous looking leather-clad guy or group. The music is Japanese. There's also Japanese rap!
