Our Story
Zuiko
The first time I heard the sound of the Tsugaru Shamisen, I was 17. It was through the Yoshida Brothers, their music was so raw and powerful that it felt like a door opening to another world. That sound never left me. A few years later, during my exchange studies in Japan, I finally began learning the shamisen under a renowned Japanese master. After returning to Taiwan, I continued my shamisen studies and joined a local shamisen group, where I began performing, competing, and later teaching. For more than ten years now, the shamisen has been an inseparable part of my life.
For more than ten years now, the shamisen has been part of my life.
This journey eventually brought me to Finland, where I studied in the Global Music Department at the Sibelius Academy. Finland’s openness to different cultures gave me the courage to believe that the shamisen could also find a home here.
Founding @shamisen_in_finland is more than just teaching an instrument, it’s about building a community. The Tsugaru Shamisen carries a unique power: a rhythm that can be fierce yet delicate, modern yet deeply rooted in tradition. My hope is to share that power with people around the world, to inspire creativity, and to let more voices join this story.
About Zuiko.
Zuiko is a Taiwan-born, Finland-based shamisen performer and composer. Blending traditional Japanese sounds with experimental and improvised elements, he creates personal sonic journeys that explore identity and emotion. He performs solo and with the cross-cultural groups TATAKI and KAÔS.
Performance Experience
2020 - 2023
Taiwan
· Nearly 100 performances nationwide as soloist and ensemble member.
· Cross-genre collaborations with taiko, shakuhachi, piano, guitar, jazz, vocals, and dance.
· Performed with Jang Li (World Harmonica Champion) at National Taichung Theater.
· Partnered with NiNi Music to reinterpret Thunderstruck (630K+ views).
· Taoyuan Shrine performance video reached over 2M views on TikTok.
2023 - Present
Finland
· Featured on Genelec international podcast.
· Founded TATAKI, trio blending Japanese traditional music with rock.
· Member of KAÔS, intercultural trio with Iranian and Portuguese musicians.
· Performed at Helsinki Hanami Festival (2023, 2024, 2025). First solo concert in Billund, Denmark (2025).
Teaching Experience
2020 -2023
Taiwan
· Shamisen instructor, Dongshan High School Taiko Club.
· Group class instructor, Meikyou Waraku Shamisen School.
· Lectures & workshops on shamisen culture at universities, high schools, Taipei City Government, and community centers.
2023 - Present
Finland
· Guest lecturer, Sibelius Academy, Music Education Department.
· Cultural lectures on shamisen at Muyo Cultural Teahouse, Helsinki.
· Founded shamisen group class at Muyo (2025–), now with dozens of students.
· Community engagement project in Jordan (2024): taught Japanese folk songs and Taiwanese folk music to local children.
Education
· Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki –
Global Music, 2023–Present
· Tsugaru Shamisen
2015–2021: Studied with Hirohara Takemi
2021–Present: Studying with Fujii Reigen
· Japanese Folk Singing
2024–Present: Studying with Ebina Uma
Language
· Chinese (Native)
· Japanese (Fluently)
· English (Fluently)
Zuiko's Music & Vision.
I use the Tsugaru Shamisen to tell my own stories through music. For me, it is more than an instrument; it is a voice that carries both strength and emotion. I love exploring new techniques, blending different sounds, and expressing my experiences through original compositions.
Alongside my own music, I also reinterpret traditional Japanese folk songs such as Kokiriko Bushi, Sakura, Soran Bushi, Kuroda Bushi, and Tinsagu no Hana. By merging these timeless melodies with styles like rock, pop, and reggae, I aim to share their beauty with modern audiences while preserving their soul and poetry.
In Finland, I continue expanding my musical identity through cross-genre collaborations. I perform with TATAKI, a Japanese rock-inspired trio featuring shamisen, bass, and drums, and KAôS, a cross-cultural ensemble combining Iranian qanun and Portuguese percussion. These projects allow me to explore new forms of expression and discover how the shamisen can connect cultures, emotions, and people.
Through teaching, performing, and creating, I hope to share the living spirit of the shamisen, its rhythm, its power, and its warmth with everyone who listens.
