Yoshida Brothers | |
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Background information | |
Origin | Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan |
Genres | Tsugaru-jamisen |
Years active | 1999–current |
Labels | Domo |
Members | Ryōichirō Yoshida Kenichi Yoshida |
Website | domomusicgroup |
The Yoshida Brothers (吉田兄弟, Yoshida Kyōdai) are Japanese shamisenist musicians who have released several albums on the Domo Records label.
The two brothers are performers of the traditional Japanese music style of Tsugaru-jamisen which originated in northern Japan. They debuted in 1999 in Japan as a duo playing the shamisen. Their first album sold over 100,000 copies and made them minor celebrities in Japan, a fact that surprised the Yoshida Brothers themselves.[1] They have since attracted an international audience.[2]
Their music has been a fusion of the rapid and percussive Tsugaru-jamisen style along with Western and other regional musical influences. In addition to performing songs that are only on the shamisen, they also use instruments such as drums and synthesizers.
The commercials for Nintendo's Wii video game console that began airing in North America in November 2006 featured the Yoshida Brothers song "Kodo (Inside the Sun Remix)".[3]