Supporters of Tsunakichi Takemoto, a leading female musician in Japan who recites the traditional narrative chant "gidayu" to accompaniment on the "shamisen," or three-stringed Japanese banjo, have filed for her inclusion in the Guinness Book of World Records.
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| Tsunakichi Takemoto with her shamisen |
Takemoto's supporters want the 95-year-old listed as the oldest female gidayu player still actively performing.
The idea of applying for Guinness recognition came when another gidayu player, the late Danshi Toyotake, was listed aged 91 as "the world's oldest entertainer."
"(Through Takemoto) We will be able to tell the world of this Japanese traditional culture of gidayu," a supporter said.
Takemoto said, "I will continue to practice and exert myself to play better." She still performs once every two years, and her next performance is set for July next year in Kyoto.
Gidayu is a type of narrative chanting with shamisen accompaniment still used in Japan's modern puppet theater.