Ohno Keisho

Keisho Ohno is native of Niigata, on the west coast of Japan. Under the influence of his mother, he started to learn Tsugaru Shamisen when he was eight years old. He became the pupil of Chikuei Takahashi, himself a disciple of Chikuzan Takahashi, the founder of Tsugaru Shamisen. His musical talent enabled him to get the title of Natori as soon as he was twelve years old, that is to say he was given the honour to take on a part of the name of his master during performances. Then he was accepted two years later among the succesors of the Chikuzan Bushi Order.

He created in 2004 the Keisho Ohno with Tsugaru Shamisen SOUL, where his play with the shamisen was accompanied by several others instruments, like keyboards or drums.

After several galas and events in Japan, as well as aboard a cruise across the Caribbean, he took part in 2006 in the SXSW (South by Southwest) Music Festival event in the United States, which was a premiere for a Tsugaru Shamisen player, and then he took the opportunity to make a seven date tour across the country. That same year he also played for the IFA 2006 in Berlin where his success drew the attention of foreign media.

He made his major start the next year with the release of his first album, Shamisen Tamashi - Shamisen Spirit.

His second album, SAMURAI, was released in February 2008 with his new unit SHOGUN. He then did a tour in France and Luxembourg.

At the beginning of 2009, he was once more on a European tour. The countries where he played this time were The Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Belgium.