Wrapped in green and white kimono, the Yoshida Brothers looked completely at ease playing shamisen at the B.B. King Blues Club and Grill in New York last month.
The Japanese brothers' hipster good looks and original rock 'n' roll take on shamisen music made them stars long ago in Japan. The Tsugaru shamisen, which originated in the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture, has even enjoyed a resurgence with the brothers' rise in popularity.
They have been working steadily to build an audience in the U.S. since their first album debuted there three years ago. Ryoichiro, who turns 29 this month, and Kenichi, 26, hope to get more fans with their U.S.-recorded album, "III," which was released in March.