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Round 4 (2002-2003) Award Recipients

Apprenticeship Guidelines and Application

Other Apprenticeship Rounds

Round 5 (2004-2005)

Round 3 (2001-2002)

Round 2 (2000-2001)

Round 1 (1999-2000)

Melody Takata and Hideko Nakajima

A three-stringed plucked lute with a modified rectangular body and a long unfretted neck, the Japanese shamisen is the backbone of various song styles of Japanese music for theater and of traditional folk music. It is the most important instrument of Kabuki providing instrumental support for the nagauta or “long song,” the principal musical style of that theater. Master Hideko Nakajima began her study of shamisen music at age 6 in Tokyo and received the highest degree possible, the Shihan, from Hideo Fujimoto, the founder of the Fujimoto-Ryu School of Shamisen Music in Tokyo. She has mastered many traditional styles of song including the nagauta, and short forms like the hauta and the minyo, traditional folk music styles. Her apprentice Melody Takata is already an accomplished musician who wishes to refine her technique on the shamisen so that she and her teacher can perform together and impart their love of traditional Japanese music to others.

The photos below were taken during a recent visit by Amy Kitchener, ACTA Executive Director.

The Japanese Shamisen is strummed with a plectrum. A practice Shamisen such as this one may cost $3,000—$5,000, while one for performance can cost over $20,000.	In the nagauta (long song), hauta (short or regional song), and the minyo (people’s or folk songs), the Shamisen in conjunction with the voice carries the main burden of the melody. Here, apprentice Melody Takata practices the accompanying vocals.
Hideko Nakajima (left) has known Melody Takata for three years and they have already performed together in public. Through the apprenticeship, Nakajima hopes to enhance Takata’s level of artistry so that she can build the level of Shamisen musicians in San Francisco. Here they both tune their Shamisens in preparation for playing.	Nakajima Sensei (teacher) (left) and apprentice Melody Takata (right) stand in front of Nakajima Sensei’s home in Richmond where she conducts her lessons.

 

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