Kouzan Oyama was born in Ehime Prefecture, Japan in 1979. He was part of the Information Technology at the Hiroshima City University. Being fascinated by the Tsugaru-Shamisen (Three-stringed Japanese guitar ), it eventually became the focus of his life. 


He studied at Sakuyou musical junior college 
majoring in Koto (Japanese horizontal harp) and graduated 1999.

 He began training in Aikido (Japanese traditional martial arts) at about the same time and has now reached 2nd grade of black belt to pursue the spirit of Japanese culture. 

He became a teacher with a master grade license of the Oyama style Tsugaru-Shamisen and became a champion at a World Championship of Tsugaru-Shamisen in Hirosaki in 2018.

 Oyama also frequently appeared in newspapers and on TV programs or other media in Japan.


Oyama later created and published sheet music for the famous Yoshida Brothers named "Tsugaru Shamisen All in One." He created many recordings of Tsugaru Shamisen including "Tsugaru Shamisen Nadaba." Oyama further created DVDs for beginner Shamisen players titled "Tsugaru Shamisen Introduction DVD."

He was appointed as one of the directors the non-profit organization, IJCEE (Institute for Japanese Traditional Culture Experience and Education). Oyama previously taught classes in Shinjuku but he later started teaching in New York from 2013 to 2015.

In 2015, he performed and held a lecture at Vassar University in NY. 


Now he is the president of Shishido Inc and he has glad to have many foreign students learning the Shamisen under him.

Links
● Emanuel Lutheran Church Concert in NYC in 2013 
● World Music Institute, Japanese Salon by Kouzan Oyama


● Profile (PDF)


● Music Video 

● Oyama Kouzan New York Concert 2016 movie by (週刊NY生活, Weekly New York Life)


● Music 

Performance Video Site

Aya Sato was born in Okinawa, and raised in Tokyo. She started to learn Okinawan Minyo (Traditional folk song) at the age of 20 from her mother, Rumiko Yamashiro, who is from Okinawa. Sato became certified with a master license from Ryukyu (Okinawa) Minyo Association at the age of 25. She won a prize at a Ryukyu Minyo Contest the following year. Now, she offers lessons as a teacher through classes run by her mother. She was invited to teach at Washita Shop in Ginza. Sato also belongs to Rumiko Yamashiro Minyo Institute, which held a students' recital called 'Kariyushi nu Ashibi' on August 27, 2017. It attracted over 1300 people.

She helped edit her mother's introduction to Sanshin book, How to make a progress in Sanshin (三線上達のポイント) published by Mates Publishing.

She performed on DJ SASA's CD recordings, 'Chu series' which mix Sanshin and Reggae styles.
She sung vocals in Tinsagu nu Hana, and Hana on the CD 'Chura Sonchu.'

Performances
● 【花のかりゆし】山城留美子 琉球民謡研究所
● 【カチャーシー①】山城留美子 琉球民謡研究所