Koharu Matsunaga used to be a fixture on Tokyo's busking circuit, belting out tunes on her button accordion with her gypsy brass band at popular tourist stops like Ueno Park.
The main songwriter and the older half of the sister duo Charan-Po-Rantan rarely performs on the streets these days, but that free-wheeling vibe is very much alive in the group's circus-themed eclectic brand of pop music that meshes klezmer funk, Balkan beats, French chanson and vaudeville cabaret with hints of Showa Era nostalgia.
And if their live shows are any indication, the duo's ties with the city's busking scene are an invaluable asset in realizing their creative vision.