Winner of the 1988 All-Japan Tsugaru-Shamisen Competition at age 14, Hiro-mitsu Agatsuma began studying this traditional 3-stringed Chinese instrument at six. In 2001, his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album won the Album of the Year at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. On this sophomore release, Agatsuma blends his many musical influences-jazz, rock fusion and Latin-based grooves-with traditional Japanese folk music.