Bands - Composers - Instruments - Musicians
1963 - Playing the Samisen, the 3 string instrument peculiar to Japan, is no easy task. But to Yoshiko Hirose, child prodigy its simple. She started taking lessons early in life. At the age of 8 she entered the famous Kineya samisen troupe, acquiring the professional name of Yayeko Kineya. At 12, she is the youngest teacher of the samisen. Her father is the proprietor of the famous chicken restaurant, Suehiro, in Tokyo. Among her other accomplishments are Japanese dancing and singing of the Nagauta, classical songs of the Japanese stage. She attends the Bunka Gakuin High School where she is a leading pupil. Photo shows Yoshiko, (right, facing camera) teaching a class of women. (Credit Image: (c) Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com/Mary Evans)
