Armed with their trusty Tsugaru shamisen—a three-stringed Japanese lute once favoured by blind musicians in ancient Japan—Mitsune crafts a unique blend of storytelling, folklore, and raw emotion, all delivered with wild vocals and infectious beats.

Since forming in 2018, this Berlin-based band has been traveling the world, performing at everything from folk festivals to techno stages, and even opening for Hiatus Kaiyote.

With members from Japan, Australia, Germany, and Greece, Mitsune fuses traditional Japanese folk music with elements of jazz, rock, psychedelia, and cinematic influences. Led by a fierce trio of shamisen players, supported by dynamic percussion and bass, they breathe new life into this centuries-old instrument, turning it into the ultimate party starter.

Their debut album introduced audiences to their fresh take on Japanese folk, while their second release, Hazama, delved deeper into cross-cultural themes, mixing intricate melodies with bold, genre-bending experimentation

In just over a month, they’ll be hitting Womex in Manchester, and we couldn’t pass up the chance to feature them in the third episode of our 2024 Musical Road to Womex series. Check out their Q&A to read what makes their sound so distinctive, and dive into their playlist for a taste of the tracks that inspire them.

Could you briefly introduce your music to someone new at Womex and share the key influences and origins of your unique sound?

Mitsune blends Japanese folk music with psychedelia, jazz, and cinematic influences. Led by two female shamisen players/vocalists, with upright bass and percussion, the band features musicians from Japan, Australia, and Greece. Prepare for a musical and visual feast, with elaborate costuming and dramaturgical performances.

Could you share a personal anecdote or experience that impacted your musical journey and the evolution of your sound?

Shiomi: I started learning shamisen and min’yo (Japanese folk music) at a young age, but at the time, it was more trendy in Japan to play Western classical instruments, so I abandoned the shamisen for the flute and piano. It wasn’t until my adult years, when I began traveling the Silk Road and brought my shamisen along, that I realised the power of folk music and instruments like the shamisen to communicate across cultures.

In Mitsune, we use the shamisen and folk music as conduits for deep exchanges between ourselves and the listeners. It brings us great joy to see how our music transcends language and context – people connect with the energy of the performance and are truly in the moment with us.

In a world full of diverse musical genres, styles, and traditions, how do you believe your music stands out and brings something fresh and exciting to the audience’s ears?

Most people have never heard the shamisen – and if they have, they certainly haven’t heard it played in this way. We aim to completely reimagine how shamisen and min’yo can be presented, through a technicolour lens filled with spontaneity, modernity, and humour.

In our live shows, people are often captivated by our percussionist Petros, a clownish character with an amazing array of instruments from all over the world. We lean into visuals, dramaturgy, and ritual – it’s important to us that our shows are a complete experience, not just a musical performance.

As Womex is not only the Worldwide Music Expo but also a lively global music funfair, are there any showcases you’re looking forward to attending and enjoying or artists participating that you would like to meet during those five days?

Yes, of course! This is the most exciting part for us!! I’m very curious about the Maraboutage cabaret – their visuals are intriguing, and I’m looking forward to the show. I’m also keen to catch Les Mamans du Congo & RRobin, Batsükh Dorj from Mongolia, Votia from Réunion, Pankisi Ensemble from Georgia, and Sarab. But honestly, we’ll mostly wander around and follow our ears!

This edition of Womex will take place in Manchester, a city with a vibrant cultural scene and rich music history. Are you particularly passionate about any act coming from the city, and has the city’s musical heritage influenced your work, if at all?

We played in Manchester last year and met an incredible artist named Paddy Steer. Paddy is a creative genius – an intergalactic wizard with a great sense of humour. He builds his own analog sound machines and is a brilliant multi-instrumentalist.

Youka: I grew up listening to music like The Smiths and Joy Division – old tapes my dad had lying around – so the Manchester sound is part of my musical DNA. Mitsune doesn’t sound anything like those bands, of course, but there is a sense of minimalism, as well as a constant interplay between light and dark, that connects with our music.

Womex is a unique opportunity to share and showcase your music with new people and inform them about your upcoming projects. Could you reveal some of your plans for the future?

We are about to release a new album that we’re really excited about! It’s a concept album in seven movements, which is a bit more avant-garde than our previous work. We recently shot some cool visuals for it in the UK, in collaboration with fashion designer Milligan Stroud, and we can’t wait to share it with you all.

Besides that, we’re planning a huge 2025 tour in Europe and the US, hoping to explore new places and meet new, beautiful faces!

If you had to draft an invitation card for our readers to join you at Womex and enjoy your showcase, what would you write on it?

Konnichiwa! You are cordially invited to get your face blasted off with shamisen riffs, eye-candy costumes, good laughs, and psychedelic Japanese folk fusion. See you in the fantasy!

Love from Mitsune xx

Mitsune will get your face blasted off with shamisen riffs
on Thursday 24th October at Warehouse Stage A, Aviva Studios, from 10.30PM

PLAYLIST: MITSUNE X RHYTHM PASSPORT

- You can find all the previous episodes of Musical Road to Womex HERE -

Photo © Shari Marks