ユニット活動
Ensembles
Tsugaru shamisen player Takaaki Fukushima performs with three ensembles: Ichifuji, who bring festive color to any celebration; Konohana, whose music evokes Japanese myth and nature; and Nitaka, who captivate audiences with the raw power of traditional Japanese instruments. Choose the ensemble that best suits your event and venue.
Traditional Japanese Entertainment Ensemble
壱富士 | Ichifuji
A Walking Power SpotWatch and you’ll smile. Listen and good fortune will come your way.
Ichifuji (壱富士) is a traditional Japanese music and entertainment ensemble produced by Tsugaru shamisen player Takaaki Fukushima.
Its five performers each carry on a traditional Japanese performing art: Tsugaru shamisen, min’yo (Japanese folk song), wadaiko (Japanese drums), Japanese classical dance (nihon buyo) and daikagura (a traditional performing art of juggling and acrobatics).
Built around the concept of a “walking power spot,” Ichifuji puts on vibrant, high-spirited shows featuring original compositions alongside celebratory songs and auspicious folk songs handed down in regions all across Japan.
Powerful Tsugaru shamisen and wadaiko, heartfelt folk song, graceful dance, and daikagura that invites good fortune. By bringing together the unique appeal of each of these arts, Ichifuji carries Japan’s culture of celebration into the present day.
From corporate celebrations and anniversaries to ceremonies of every kind and local festivals, Ichifuji adds extra splendor to every joyous occasion.
Making joyful days even more joyful.
Making ordinary days a little joyful, too.
Inviting good fortune and bringing smiles.
Concept“A Walking Power Spot”
For centuries, Japan has passed down a wealth of traditional performing arts devoted to wishing people happiness and prosperity. Ichifuji is a traditional Japanese music and entertainment ensemble that distills this Japanese “culture of celebration” onto a single stage.
Celebratory songs lift the spirits, the sound of shamisen and taiko drums sets hearts racing, the beauty of the dance captivates, and the dazzling feats of daikagura draw cheers. More than just music, Ichifuji delivers a festive show to watch, listen to and enjoy.
When Ichifuji arrives, good fortune follows. With this wish at heart, the ensemble brings smiles and celebration to audiences all across Japan.
Japanese & Western Instrumental Ensemble
木ノ花 | Konohana
Three Instruments Weaving Tales of Myth and Nature
Konohana (木ノ花) is an ensemble of Japanese and Western instruments: Tsugaru shamisen, violin and piano. The group takes its name from Konohanasakuya-hime, a goddess of Japanese mythology.
Mount Fuji is a symbol of Japan. In Yamanashi Prefecture, which spreads out from its foot, the worship of Mount Fuji has deep roots, and many Sengen shrines (浅間神社) dedicated to Konohanasakuya-hime stand throughout the region. Drawing on Mount Fuji’s rich natural beauty and the stories of the gods that live on in Japanese mythology, Konohana creates a musical world all its own with Japanese and Western instruments.
The powerful, deeply expressive sound of the Tsugaru shamisen, the graceful, soaring melodies of the violin, and the richly colored harmonies of the piano: three instruments born of different cultures come together, now gentle, now fierce, to paint the beauty of nature and the vibrant pulse of life in music.
The repertoire centers on original compositions inspired by Japanese mythology and nature through the four seasons: the whisper of the wind, the flow of water, majestic mountain landscapes, and the stories of the gods told in myth. Blending a traditional Japanese sensibility with the rich expressiveness of Western music, Konohana gives musical form to the unseen scenery and stories of nature.
In 2021, Konohana held its first concert at Kawaguchiko Enkei Hall (河口湖円形ホール). Since then, the ensemble has broadened its activities to include hall concerts, outdoor concerts and collaborations with the performing arts. In 2024, it ventured into a fusion with rock music at a special live show with guest Kiyoshi Ijichi, drummer of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION.
From the foot of Mount Fuji, music woven from the myths and nature of Japan.
Traditional Japanese Music Ensemble
弍鷹 | Nitaka
The Soul-Shaking Impact of Japanese Sound
Nitaka (弍鷹) is a traditional Japanese music ensemble of shamisen, shakuhachi and wadaiko. Built on the concepts of strength, dynamism and sheer power, Nitaka delivers energetic performances that harness the deep, resonant sound and overwhelming force of traditional Japanese instruments.
The sharp, powerful tone of the shamisen, the deep, expansive resonance of the shakuhachi, and the earth-shaking drive of the wadaiko. The rich, weighty ensemble woven by these three traditional Japanese instruments, together with the intense spirit of the performers, moves the hearts of everyone who watches.
The repertoire ranges widely, from traditional folk songs handed down through generations to original compositions, classical pieces and contemporary works, all presented in distinctive arrangements that bring out the very best of each instrument. While cherishing the depth of traditional music, Nitaka embraces a contemporary sensibility, pursuing both entertainment value and artistry that resonate with younger generations.
Nitaka performs widely, from community events and stage productions to schools and other educational institutions. Its aim is to create shows that let even audiences hearing traditional Japanese music for the first time feel the power and appeal of traditional Japanese instruments instantly.
Carrying on tradition, breaking convention.
Making the sound of Japan resonate today.
Each of our ensembles is available for performance bookings.