The shamisen heads were mostly damaged, but shamisen maker extraordinaire, Kyle Abbott, helped put new skin on them.
When Kent donated the instruments, Tama’s performance koto was remarkably well preserved, stored in a canvas koto cover that looked like it had been custom made–maybe in camp. Even the strings were not cut. It sounded a bit “thunky,” but I was able to play on the old silk strings.
We are planning to perform on these instruments in the classical style in which they would have been played in the WWII American concentration camps, as well some modern pieces which were also played in camp. The “Desert Winds and Strings” concert will be held on Saturday, November 4th, 2023 from 2-4 pm at J-Sei, 1285 66th St., Emeryville, CA, (510)654-4000. Please join us! For more information, click here.
Many thanks to Kent Nakamoto for the information about his mother and these instruments, as they will eventually be donated to the Topaz Museum in Delta, UT.
About the contributor: Shirley Muramoto is a koto musician, teacher, band leader and filmmaker. She grew up in Oakland, CA after the War. She received her instructor’s license (1976) and master’s degree (2000) from the Chikushi School in Fukuoka, Japan. She was the Creative Director of the 2014 documentary, “Hidden Legacy: Japanese Traditional Performing Arts in the WWII Internment Camps.” In 2012 Shirley was honored by the Hokka Nichibei Kai Japanese American Cultural Association of America by being inducted into the Bunka Hall of Fame for her life-long dedication to teaching and performing on the Japanese koto.
Copyright 2023, Shirley Muramoto.