Yoshida Brothers

The Yoshida Brothers are part of a new wave of shamisen players in Japan that pair a deep respect for the instrument's roots in folk traditions with a strong interest in pop and rock experimentation. The brothers grew up in Noboribetsu, Hokkaido, and each began studying the three-string Japanese lute at age five, primarily pursuing the Tsugaru-jamisen genre. They have gone on to become respected traditional masters, winning national shamisen competitions and releasing a highly successful folk debut that earned a Traditional Japanese Music Album of the Year award at the Japan Golden Disc Awards. Ryoichiro and Kenichi are also known as innovators, pioneering an aggressive, almost electric guitar-esque playing style and adding dance beats, pop stylings and blues-rock elements to their recordings. The combination of innovation and tradition has garnered the Brothers an international reputation, as well as the deal that has arguably made them the most famous: In 2006, Nintendo began using their song "Kodo (Inside the Sun Remix)" for the popular commercials for their Wii gaming system.