Howdy Melissa! I LOVE the shamisen, though I confess I haven’t educated myself on the different varieties, or whatever that’s called. I know there are different words that precede them, I just have no idea what distinction it’s making. That aside, super good luck in your studies! (do you have any shimasen videos? :D)
Also, maybe not the correct place for this, but Eihiko if you’re indeed in Tokyo next year, you are encouraged to let me know, that we may partake in the consumption of… Japanese culture ;)… together. (alcohol is culture, right? Right? yeaahhhhh it is.)
Melissa you’re definitely invited too – I don’t like to exclude anyone :P
I haz a blog http://maninjapanchannel.wordpress.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLQzB-1u-dg