LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach City College (LBCC) will present a free public performance by Japan-based shamisen duo KUNI-KEN on Tuesday, May 12, from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m., featuring an energetic blend of traditional Tsugaru shamisen and rock-influenced original music, followed by audience Q&A and a hands-on experience with the instrument.
Event Details
What: KUNI-KEN Shamisen Concert + Q&A + Hands-on Experience
When: Tuesday, May 12, 5:30–7:15 p.m.
Where: Bob & Barbara Ellis Auditorium, Long Beach City College (Liberal Arts Campus, Building J), 4901 E. Carson St., Long Beach, CA 90808
Admission: Free
Parking: Free
The program will open with a full concert by the KUNI-KEN brothers (Kuniaki and Kenji), followed by an interactive segment where attendees can ask questions and learn more about the shamisen—Japan’s three-stringed lute known for its crisp, percussive sound and expressive performance style.
Based in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan, KUNI-KEN is recognized internationally for a “shamisen rock” approach that pairs virtuosic Tsugaru shamisen technique with contemporary rhythms and stage presence. The May 12 event is designed for both first-time listeners and longtime fans of Japanese music and culture.
Admission and parking are free, and the event is open to the campus community and the general public.
The visit also continues cultural exchange between Long Beach and Yokkaichi City—Long Beach’s sister city in Japan. When an LBCC group visited Yokkaichi in summer 2025, KUNI-KEN performed at a welcome reception hosted by the City of Yokkaichi.
In return, LBCC is welcoming the duo to Long Beach for a special one-night program that highlights the shamisen’s enduring tradition and its contemporary evolution on stages around the world.
About KUNI-KEN
KUNI-KEN is a “shamisen brothers” band comprised of older brother Kuniaki and younger brother Kenji from Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. They debuted with the album BROTHER and have performed widely across Europe and Asia, bringing an original sound that fuses rock energy with the traditional shamisen. Their distinctive arrangement of “Tsugaru Jongara Bushi,” developed by the duo, has become a signature highlight of their live shows.
KUNI-KEN performed at the dinner reception of the 2019 G20 Aichi-Nagoya Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and has appeared at major international cultural events including Japan Expo Paris. In October 2023, the duo marked 20 years since debut and released the album Shamisen Hybrid, followed by a 20th anniversary concert at Yokkaichi City Cultural Hall in January 2024.
Their international performance record includes engagements in France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Spain, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), India, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines (Manila), and Macau.
Kuniaki Matsunaga has served as a Tourism Ambassador of Yokkaichi City, reflecting the duo’s role in representing their hometown through cultural outreach and international touring.