Hidetaro Honjoh
Hidetaro Honjoh
Born in 1945, Honjoh is one of Japan’s representative shamisen performers and composers. He studied nagauta under Yoshie Kineya and minyo under Fujimoto Hideo I. In 1971 he went independent and established the Honjoh school [style] of shamisen, adopting the professional name Hidetaro Honjoh. He continues to teach performers of the next generation as the family head of the Honjoh school of shamisen while engaging in a wide variety of activities, from performing the traditional classics to composing and performing for movies, stage and television. He is constantly undertaking new activities, such as his establishment of the group ATAVUS, aimed at reviving and re-establishing hauta and Japanese ethnic music. He has won a large and appreciative audience with the tonal beauty of his shamisen and the richness of his singing voice.