Artist: 桃山 晴衣 (Harue Momoyama)

Japanese singer and shamisen player. Born in 1939 in Tokyo; died December 5, 2008 in Nisshin-shi, Aichi-ken. Studied many areas of Japanese music history - miyazono-bushi, Silk Road instrumental legacies, Ainu music, 12th century popular songs, nursery rhymes, etc. Founded her own school of shamisen music, the Momoyama-ryu in 1960. She has worked with many theatre workers including Peter Brook and the butoh dancer Kazuo Ohno. Founded the Ryuko Gakusha label together with Toshi Tsuchitori.