Goodbye 2008

The sisters finished their last performance for 2008 tonight! They had a lot of performances this year and hope to do more next year. Thanks to all who supported them in 2008.

Traditional Hot Spring

This photo at the sisters performance tonight shows the front of the traditional hot spring hotel they play at regularly. Afterwards, the sisters enjoy some hot chocolate on a cold snowy Yamagata night.

Snowy Yamagata

The sisters will perform tonight at Koyo Hot Spring Hotel in Kaminoyama city (near Yamagata-city). A LOT of snow has fallen in the past two days in Yamagata. Shana is seen here playing in the snow up in the mountains near the sisters' house. The sisters live near Zao. There is a lot of snow every year.

Shibuya

The sisters enjoyed shopping in Shibuya today. They will return to (snowy) Yamagata and begin preparing for their next performance.

Christmas in Shibuya

The sisters performed at three services of the Christmas Eve service at Tokyo Baptist Church in Shibuya tonight. Each service was packed and they played several Christmas songs. Merry Christmas to all.

Christmas Eve performance

The sisters just finished their hotel stage tonight. Winter break has just about started. They will be playing several Christmas songs with other musicians in Tokyo for Christmas Eve at Tokyo Baptist Church. Please come!

Akayu Onsen

The sisters finished up three days of performances at Akayu Onsen in Yamagata tonight and are a little tired. Tonight's show had 70 guests and afterwards the sisters ate dinner with everyone and took an ONSEN. Takinami Ryokan has a very warm and friendly atmosphere combined with old Edo Japan feel. The sisters will take a day off and then prepare to go to Tokyo.

Traditional Japan

The Sisters played for the second night in a 350 year old Ryokan Onsen (Japanese hot spring). The show was sold out and the guests really enjoyed listening to the sisters play and speak. This Ryokan has a wonderful ONSEN as well. There were guests from Taiwan and England.

Dinner Show

You can see the sisters playing at a Christmas show at Akayu Onsen. There were guest who came from Tokyo to hear the sisters play. Afterwards, they got to eat a delicious meal with everyone. They will play again tomorrow and the next day.

Prepare

The sisters are changinginto Kimono for a performance at a beautiful oldstyle inn.

Congratulations

All three sisters played well in Osaka this weekend. Kyla placed in the finals of the women's general division which had the most players, and received an award. The sisters are back in Yamagata and getting ready for a busy performance schedule in the next 10 days. They really had a good time in Osaka.

Nervous

The sisters are in Osaka at a national competition.Warming up!

Sendai airport

Waiting for their flightto Osaka at Sendai airport.

Cases

The sisters are packing to go to Osaka this weekend for the tsugaru shamisen national competition. You can see there small and soft cases in this photo. Traveling with three shamisens is quite an undertaking. All three must be broken down into 3 sections and put in the small square case for air travel and reassembled when you get there. The sisters are excited to go to Universal Studios as well. More posts coming as they travel...

Reflections

The Sisters are seen here reflected on the glass of the hotel lobby where they play every week. This weekend the sisters will be in Osaka to participate in the national tsugaru shamisen contest.