Japanese Shamisen Performance Shines at the Chongqing Cultural Industry Expo

By Yuling Chen, iChongqing News 

Chongqing- The Consulate-General of Japan in Chongqing, together with Chongqing HI-LEX Cable System Group Co., Ltd., and the Association of Janpanese Alumni in Chongqing, invited the Shamisen performance team Guodo Sangen Yuyokai (求道三絃 由謡会) from Japan to the Chongqing International Cultural Industry Expo (CQCIE).

Shamisen performance team Guodo Sangen Yuyokai from Japan plays at the Chongqing International Cultural Industry Expo.

They brought visitors fascinating shows played with traditional Japanese musical instruments and listeners enjoyed a lot.

Shamisen is originated from the Chinese Sanxian, literally three-stringed musical instrument came into being around the 15th century. The Tsugaru Shamisen is characterized by improvisation, close to percussion and fast tempo. It can also be used as a percussion instrument. The player can use the plectrum to strike the instrument. In order to diversify the performance, the team added a bamboo flute.

"This is the first time I listened to the Shamisen performance, I didn't expect the three strings to play such a variety of melody. This is a very interesting," an exhibitor at the N2 exhibition pavilion- The Belt and Road Hall of World Cultures said.

Nobuyuki Watanabe, Consul General of Japan in Chongqing takes an interview at the 8th Chongqing International Cultural Industry Expo.

After the performance, Nobuyuki Watanabe, Consul General of Japan in Chongqing took an interview and he said, “The Chongqing International Cultural Industry Expo serves as a good platform to introduce Japan, its society and culture. Culture can promote good relationships between countries, regions and peoples.”

The 8th Chongqing International Cultural Industry Expo opened in Chongqing on September 12, 2019 and runs to September 15. CQCIE is hosted by Chongqing Daily News Group and serves as a cultural event in Chongqing. It has been successfully held for seven consecutive years since 2012.

The exhibition area, consisting of five theme exhibition pavilions, covers 60,000 square meters. These five exhibition pavilions are N1 Share Cultures and Landscapes Hall of Achievements, N2 The Belt and Road Hall of World Cultures, N3 Hall of Culture and Traditional Crafts of China, N4 Trading Hall of Featured Cultural Industries and N6 Hall of Integrated and Innovative Cultural Arts.

 

Related link:

The Cultural Industry Expo Opens in SW China’s Chongqing