Tsugaru Shamisen Shinjuku Battle – Call for Participants
Organized by Minyo Shinjuku Ward Federation
Date: May 6 (Wed, National Holiday) Start Time: 12:00 PM
Venue: Shinjuku 44 Fantasy Hall 4-9-11 Yotsuya, 8F, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Competition Categories ■ Individual Division
(For participants who have NOT won first place in an individual division at other competitions)
Traditional Performance Division – On-site (Offline)
A Class (Advanced): within 3 min 3 sec
B Class (Intermediate): within 3 min
C Class (Upper Beginner): within 2 min 30 sec
D Class (Beginner): within 2 min
■ Group Division
2–6 members
Must perform a piece primarily based on Tsugaru folk songs
■ Individual Division (No Restrictions)
Traditional Performance – Video Submission Division
A Class (Advanced): within 3 min 3 sec
B Class (Intermediate): within 3 min
C Class (Upper Beginner): within 2 min 30 sec
D Class (Beginner): within 2 min
■ Individual – Original Composition / On-site (Offline)
Within 4 minutes
Cover songs permitted
Acoustic instruments other than shamisen allowed
Maximum of two instruments (e.g., shamisen & guitar)
■ Individual – Original Composition / Video Division
Within 4 minutes
Cover songs permitted
No restriction on instrumentation
■ Group – Original Composition / Video Division
No limit on number of members
Shamisen-only ensemble
Awards
All participants will receive an award.
1st Place – Champion 2nd Place – Throne Award 3rd Place – Grand Excellence Award 4th Place – Supreme Award 5th Place – Grand Prize 6th Place – Gold Award 7th Place – Newcomer Award 8th Place – Excellence Award 9th Place – Special Award 10th place and below – Additional Special Awards
Entry Fees
Individual (On-site): \4,400 per person
Video Division & Group (including Original Composition Division with 2+ members): \3,300 per person
You may apply for both Individual and Group/Composition divisions. You may NOT apply for both On-site and Video divisions.
Certificates can be mailed (shipping fee required; international shipping available). Trophy available upon request: additional \4,400 + shipping.
Waiting Room
Studio Baum (11-minute walk from the venue)
Judges
Reigen Fujii – Japan Tsugaru Shamisen Champion
Kyle Abbott – President, International Shamisen Association
Kouzan Oyama – Master Instructor, Tsugaru Shamisen Oyama School
Organizer
Minyo Shinjuku Ward Federation
Application & Inquiries
Email: shinjuku.minyo@gmail.com
Contact: Kouzan
When applying, please provide:
Division you wish to enter
Name (stage name accepted)
Phonetic spelling
Email address
Phone number
Prefecture of origin
Country of origin
Age (at the time of competition)
Number of members (for group entries)
Video Participants
Please submit your video by April 30. Upload as an unlisted YouTube video and send the link. If you do not have a YouTube account, please send the video file directly.
Application deadline: April 30
Notice
Due to venue limitations, there will be no audience seating available. The event is scheduled to be livestreamed on the Shishido YouTube channel.