Reigen Fujii

Reigen Fujii (藤井黎元) is a distinguished tsugaru‑style shamisen virtuoso. He began studying the instrument at age 12, soon earning top placements in national competitions. In 2012, he made history as the youngest-ever champion in the Tsugaru Shamisen Japan Championship, earning the title of fifth-generation “Japan’s Number One”.

A true innovator, Fujii established foundational chord theory for shamisen, introduced groundbreaking techniques, and has expanded the instrument’s reach into Western and jazz contexts. He’s performed internationally and has trained numerous competition winners, and has collaborated with major acts like Arashi, Momoiro Clover Z, Hikawa Kiyoshi, May.J, and others.