Weekly Newsletter for Shinobue Lovers

June 22, 2025

Konnichiwa from Japan! 🇯🇵

June is the season of ajisai (hydrangeas) here, and everywhere I walk feels like stepping into a watercolor painting. I wanted to share a bit of that beauty with you.

Japan loves hydrangeas, and there are many different types and colors of them that I do not see in the United States.

Nature and music are deeply connected in Japanese culture.

Many shinobue melodies were inspired by the sights, seasons, and feelings of traditional village life.

I hope these photos—and the music I share—bring you a moment of peace and connection wherever you are.

Thank you!

Thank you to all who purchased my new songbook "Night Songs".

The links for tutorial videos, piano accompaniments, and sample performance audio tracks are located on the second page of the PDF file you received!

*****

The sale is over, but you can still purchase the book here!

Night Songs

Let's meet and have fun in Phoenix!!

I'm teaching shinobue in Phoenix on Labor Day weekend at the 2025 North American Taiko Conference.

You can attend my 2-hour session for just $60! There's no need to register for the entire conference.

I'll be offering a beginning shinobue class and an intermediate/advanced class where we will learn to play "Tsuki no Sabaku" (Desert Moon), which is a perfect theme for Arizona!

After two days of teaching at the Taiko Conference on Friday and Saturday, I will be at the Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix (Rohoen) on Saturday, August 31, sharing more about shinobue. This beautiful and authentic Japanese garden is located near downtown Phoenix. We are planning to have activities inside their authentic Japanese tea room since the temperature outside will be very hot. More details will be available soon!

Check out my videos on my YouTube channel!

Under the sacred Torii gate...

This beautiful bamboo park with a Torii gate is only a few minute walk from my mom's house in Japan. I went there the other day and played "Hokage Funeral" from Naruto Shippuden.

It's been very hot (in the 90's = 32 C) and humid in Japan and there were mosquitos in there, but I really wanted to share the beautiful serenity of Japanese bamboo grove with a sacred torii gate! Hope you'll enjoy it!