高橋竹山 | en

高橋竹山 (Takahashi Chikuzan) was a renowned Japanese Tsugaru-jamisen* performer and composer. 高橋竹山 was born on 18 June 1910. He lost his sight at around age of three as a result of measles. He spent his childhood near his home town - he was accepted as a live-in apprentice of the Tsugaru-jamisen performer Toda Jūjirō. Before World War II he toured surrounding countryside, playing before doorsteps to earn a living. After the war he became more widely known as an accompanist for the famous Tsugaru folk singer Narita Unchiku. It was then that he assumed the stage name 竹山 (Chikuzan) -...