Takeharu Kunimoto

was a prominent Japanese shamisen player and rōkyoku singer.

Early life At the age of 14 Kunimoto attended a Bill Monroe concert in Tokyo and shook his hand, thus inspiring Takeharu to play bluegrass.

Musical career In addition to performing and recording traditional music, he was also the only prominent shamisen player to perform and record bluegrass music; he spent some time in the 2000s in the bluegrass program of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. He also performed and recorded in a rock music-influenced style.

Death Kunimoto died at the age of 55 on December 24, 2015, following an illness.

Discography Contributing artist The Rough Guide to the Music of Japan(1999, World Music Network) The Last Frontier: Appalachian Shamisen (2005, Now and Then Records)