Internationally active experimental shamisen musician Yumiko Tanaka provides a thrilling improvisational soundscape to the silent film Crossroads (Jujiro, 1928). This audacious film by Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner Teinosuke Kinugasa (1896-1982) depicts the love between a poor brother and sister, and features hallucinatory imagery and boundary-pushing German Expressionist-inspired set design. This program is part of Japan Society’s 2014 Monthly Film Series, The Dark Side of the Sun: John Zorn on Japanese Cinema, curated by musical maverick and film and Japanese culture aficionado John Zorn. For this event, Tanaka will be joined by guest percussionist Satoshi Takeishi. Followed by a reception.
 
Crossroads (Jujiro): 1928, 87 min., 35 mm, b&w, silent, with English and German intertitles. Directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa. With Junosuke Bando, Akiko Chihaya, Yukiko Ogawa, Ippei Sohma, Kazuo Hasegawa.

Tickets: $15/$12 Japan Society members, students & seniors. General admission.

Purchase tickets to two The Shamisen Sessions events and save $4, purchase tickets to three and save $6, purchase tickets to all four and save $8 (available for general and member-priced tickets). Discount is only available by visiting or calling the box office at (212) 715-1258 or by downloading the Ticket Order Form (PDF).

The Shamisen Sessions
From traditional stages to contemporary rock, pop and jazz concerts, this three-stringed instrument has forged art and entertainment culture in Japan for centuries and continues to shape new spheres in world music. These four sessions spotlight leading shamisen musicians from Japan performing the full gamut of today’s musical styles.