Shamisen musician Anju leads Hawai'i group for fifth anniversary recital

Anju, a trained shamisen player based on Oʻahu, will lead the Madoka No Kai Hawaii group in its fifth anniversary recital on Nov. 15. The performance takes place at the Michael D. Nakasone Performing Arts Center at Pearl City High School.

The school, Madoka No Kai, focuses on Minyo, a genre of Japanese traditional folk music. Anju serves as the representative for the Hawaiʻi branch of the organization. She established the local chapter five years ago.

Anju was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. She gave her first performance at age two and began training under her mother, who serves as the headmaster of Madoka No Kai. Her time in Hawaiʻi has centered on teaching these musical forms to local residents.

The group aims to maintain the art form while connecting it with younger audiences. Anju stated that she incorporates Western songs and J-pop into her performances to engage new generations. She believes this approach helps share the sound of the shamisen with modern performers while keeping the art grounded in its history.

Anju emphasized the importance of preservation in her decision to teach in Hawaiʻi. She told HPR that local instructors teaching local students ensures the Japanese traditional music arts continue in the region. She described the need to give equal attention to the original tradition and its essence.

The recital marks the end of the Bon Dance season for the year, though the group uses the event to highlight the music associated with those celebrations. The performance is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Nov. 15.

Anju compared the preservation of the art form to nurturing plant roots. She noted that just as flowers cannot bloom in dry soil, the tradition requires continued care to pass to future generations. The event offers a live demonstration of the shamisen and related musical instruments.