Shopping

Kyla, Brenna and Shana get in a little last minute shopping in the underground mall in Sakae (Nagoya). Tomorrow they will compete in the national tsugaru shamisen competition here. Good luck!

Outback

The sisters eat at Outback. Looks delicious! Can they eat all of it?

Nagoya II

The sisters ride the subway in Nagoya. It's crowded and humid.

In Nagoya

At our downtown Nagoya hotel. The girls aren't too thrilled with their hotel but it IS convenient and cheap!

Rest Stop

The sisters stop at a rest area in Nagano. They are standing in front of a cooling blower. All three have been eating lots of snacks and junk food!

日本海

View of the Japan Sea from an expressway rest stop.

Niigata

Now in Niigata Prefecture, waiting on construction. It's beautiful!

Let's go!

It's early as the sisters get ready to leave for Nagoya. It will take about 8.5 hours!

Downtime

Kyla and Shana play a game on their iPhones before their last practice before leaving for Nagoya.


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Last of July

The sisters played at a large gathering of companies in Yamagata this evening. There were about 500 guests in attendance. They got to eat a good meal after the show. The sisters finished their busy performance schedule this month and will leave for the national competition in Nagoya on Friday.

Room

The sisters are preparing for tonight's performance in Yamagata.

Sendai again

The sisters are back in Sendai again this weekend for a practice with other group members. It's a hot 〓〓 day.

Sendai

The sisters practice in Sendai with their Sensei.

Yonezawa stage

The sisters finished a wonderful stage at Uesugi, in historic Yonezawa-city, Yamagata. Afterwards, the sisters had a delicious Japanese style meal.

Uesugi

At Uesugi Shrine park in Yonezawa city, the sisters get ready for an outdoor performance at 7:00.

Holiday evening

Brenna practices this evening for the upcoming competition. She is
recording herself with her iPhone in this picture. The Sisters also
have a big performance coming up in Yonezawa this Thursday.

Last day

The sisters finish up four straight days at Koyo's Summer Gourmet Party. There were over 400 guests tonight. The sisters wore their Yukata for tonight's show. Good job!

tuning

Brenna tunes up for tonight's show.

Day 3

The sisters completed day three of their summer Live party tonight. They wore their shiny kimono but said they were very HOT in them.

elevator

The sisters wait for the elevator to go up there changing room for tonight's performance.

Day 2

The sisters finished the second day of four in a row for a summer gourmet party.

Shana and Brenna wait for Kyla to get her kimono on.

The sisters eat dinner at Koyo before their stage. Delicious Yamagata beef!

Summer Gourmet Party - Day 1

The sisters performed for 40 minutes at a summer gourmet party sponsored by Koyo Onsen hotel in Kaminoyama city, Yamagata. They will be performing three more nights in a row there. It is a beautiful hotel with a great Onsen (hot spring). There were about 400 guests in attendance for the show.

The sisters eat at Koyo before they go on stage tonight.

Color

Kyla warms up last week for a show. the sisters will have six
performances and a national competition in the next few
weeks..hopefully no shamisens will need repairing!

Summer Stages

The sisters get ready for four performances in a row starting tomorrow.

on Stage Tonight

The sisters played for a private party tonight with about 150 people in the audience. Afterwards, they ate at a quick meal at McDonalds (but of course would not get out of the car wearing their Kimono!)

Practice

The sisters practice together this evening. Tomorrow they have an
INKAI or private party they will perform at.

Nagoya

Today the sisters received their Nagoya competition information with
their draw number. All three sisters were born in Aichi so it is their
FURUSATO.

Starting up

Forgot to post this last night...Shana practices for a one dog
audience. The sisters will be busy with performances from now.

At Zao

Shana at a lake on Zao. Her two labs wait for the stick to be thrown
in the water to retrieve it. Today was a relaxing day for everyone as
the sisters will soon be very busy with performaces this month.

Cherries!

Shana looks at all Yamagata cherries at a local vegetable stand. They
are delicious!

a break

The sisters have no shamisen activities planned for this weekend. In
the past three months, they have either been preparing for performances, traveling to one, at a TAIKAI or at a lesson scheduled in Sendai. They are looking forward to having a little break for
the Independence Day weekend ! (photo above is a local Yamagata hot spring)