Transmission of Jiuta Sōkyoku for Shamisen and Koto: Negotiating Musical Identity offers

a rich and compelling exploration of Japan’s refined chamber music tradition for voice,

shamisen (three-stringed lute), andkoto (thirteen-stringed zither). Tracing the genre’s

evolution from the seventeenth century to the present day, the book reveals how

jiuta sōkyoku has continually reinvented itself, moving from a tradition rooted in blind

male performers to a vibrant field of contemporary artistic expression.

At the heart of this study lies the question of how musical identity is formed, maintained,

and transformed. Through close examination of transmission practices — including

teaching and learning processes, master–disciple relationships within theiemoto (house-head) system,

and the dynamics of change, variation, tradition, and innovation — the author illuminates the complex

negotiations that shape this living musical heritage. Grounded in extensive ethnographic research,

including firsthand learning experiences and interviews with leading musicians, the book offers

rare insight into the perspectives of performers at the forefront of the genre today.

Bridging historical depth with contemporary practice, this volume will be essential reading for students

and scholars of ethnomusicology and Japanese studies, as well as an illuminating resource

for anyone interested in Japanese music and its ongoing transformation.

About the Author

Shino Arisawa received her PhD in Ethnomusicology from SOAS University of London

and is currently Professor of Ethnomusicology and Japan Studies at Tokyo Gakugei University.

[Parution] Transmission of Japanese Jiuta Sōkyoku for Shamisen and Koto, Shino Arisawa