Mike Penny

Mike Penny is an acclaimed American Tsugaru shamisen virtuoso, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles. He began his shamisen journey in late 2004 in Santa Cruz, CA under the tutelage of Tsugaru-master Kevin Kmetz. His exceptional talent earned him the Japan Foundation’s prestigious Uchida Fellowship in 2007–08, enabling study in Tokyo with renowned sensei Toyoaki Fukushi.

Penny has since debuted at major competitions, becoming the second non‑Japanese to place at the annual international Tsugaru shamisen tournament in Hirosaki. Beyond competition, his piece “Cruzian Grass” won Global Rhythm’s songwriting contest in 2005, and he has performed hundreds of concerts across the U.S. and Japan.

A pioneer in fusion, Penny blends traditional shamisen with jazz, Balkan folk, Western classical, and contemporary styles, building a devoted following through viral YouTube performances. He has also contributed shamisen soundtracks to major productions like Ghost of Tsushima, Blue Eye Samurai, and Samurai Rabbit—and simultaneously furthers Japanese cultural exchange in his role at the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles.