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Ki&Ki (band)

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Ki&Ki
OriginJapan
GenresMin'yō, pop
Years active2008–present
LabelsJVCKenwood Victor Entertainment
MembersHikari Shirafuji
Kanami Takeda
Websitewww.shamisenkiki.com

Ki&Ki (KiKi) is a tsugaru-shamisen duo band based in Tokyo, Japan, consisting of Hikari Shirafuji and Kanami Takeda. Originally formed in 2008,[1] the group is known for competing in and winning multiple national competitions in Japan, such as the All-Japan Tsugaru Shamisen Competition in Nagoya.[2][3] Performances from the duo include traditional pieces as well as popular music.

In February 2019, the duo was recognized by the Cabinet Secretariat (Japan) and certified under the beyond2020 Program on the basis of the cultural value of their performance as well as for disseminating traditional Japanese music abroad.[4][5]

History

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While currently based in Tokyo, Shirafuji grew up in Hyōgo Prefecture whereas Takeda grew up in Aichi Prefecture. The two initially met at national tsugaru-shamisen competitions in Japan.[6] Both performers attended university in Tokyo in 2008, and during that year, Shirafuji and Takeda officially formed Ki&Ki.

The group's name is written in Japanese as 輝&輝, and pronounced "ki ki." The kanji 輝 means "to shine." In an interview, when asked why they chose the name, Shirafuji explained that she and Takeda have very different playing styles due to their background and training. The performers compare these differences as representing different "colors" to how they play their instruments, and that in combining them together, the music has a bright and shiny quality.[6]

In September 2020, The Guardian reported that Ki&Ki had been partnering with Canadian performer and Youtuber Norm Nakamura to organize tsugaru-shamisen concerts internationally, in an effort to revive and popularize the instrument and specific style of performance. They also planned to work together to initiate an online training course on shamisen performance.[7]

Awards

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  • Hikari Shirafuji[8][9]
    • 2002 Tsugaru Shamisen Hirosaki National Tournament Junior Class Champion
    • 2004 Tsugaru Shamisen Hirosaki National Tournament C-class victory
    • 2007 Tsugaru Shamisen Hirosaki National Tournament Women's Class A Winner
    • 2008, Tsugaru Shamisen Hirosaki National Tournament Women's Class A Champion [2 consecutive victories]
    • 2009 Tsugaru Shamisen Kyushu Tournament in Yatsushiro Grand Prix Championship
    • 2010 Tsugaru Shamisen Hirosaki National Tournament Women's Class A Winner
    • 2010 National Tsugaru Shamisen Competition Nagoya Tournament General A-class victory
    • 2010 Tsugaru Shamisen National Tournament in Kobe General Division
    • 2013, 7th Tsugaru Shamisen Japan's No. 1 deciding match 3rd place
  • Kanami Takeda[10][11]
    • 2006 Tsugaru Shamisen National Tournament in Kobe General Women's Division
    • 2006 National Tsugaru Shamisen Competition General Women's Division Winner
    • In 2007, the 1st Tsugaru Shamisen Japan's No. 1 deciding match general women's division championship
    • 2009, National Tsugaru Shamisen Competition Nagoya Tournament General A class runner-up
    • 2010, Tsugaru Shamisen All Japan Kanagi Tournament General Division A Class 2nd Place
    • 2010, National Tsugaru Shamisen Competition Nagoya Tournament General A class runner-up
    • 2011 Tsugaru Shamisen All Japan Kanagi Tournament General Division A-class victory

Discography

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CDs

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  • 2GIRL SHAMISEN (2012)
  • 輝&輝の芽 (2013)
  • 開華宣言 (2015)
  • ききくらべCD（No.1〜No.4） (2016)
  • 輝&輝の実 (2017)
  • 輝&輝の樹 (2017)　（※輝&輝バンド名義）
  • LOOP LOOP LOOP (2019)

DVDs

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  • 開華宣言 in TIAT SKY HALL Concert Selection (2016)

輝&輝バンド

References

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  1. ^ "生の津軽三味線を 若手女性デュオ「輝＆輝」 名古屋で２１日 ／愛知". 毎日新聞. 毎日新聞社. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. ^ "三味線デュオが新作 「輝＆輝」CD2枚発表". Chunichi Shimbun. 12 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Tsugarushamisen KIKI 10th anniversary concert SAISEI in Tokyo | Second term of fiscal year 2017 [Single Grants] | Support Programs". Arts Council Tokyo. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. ^ "輝＆輝(KIKI) beyond2020初の認証アーティストとして カナダ公演の大成功を経て本日メジャーデビュー！". うたまっぷNEWS. うたまっぷNEWS. 17 April 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  5. ^ "beyond2020プログラムシンポジウム" (PDF). Cabinet Public Relations Office. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Ki&Ki: The new face of traditional Japanese music". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  7. ^ McCurry, Justin (13 September 2020). "Japan's young musicians rally to save dying art of shamisen music". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  8. ^ Hikari Shirafuji Archived 9 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine from On-tsu-do
  9. ^ Detailed concert information Archived 27 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine from Munetsugu Hall
  10. ^ Kanami Tanaka Archived 14 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine from On-Tsu-Do
  11. ^ "本学4年の武田佳泉さんが第23回津軽三味線全日本金木大会で仁太坊賞（第1位）を受賞しました". Kunitachi College of Music. 4 May 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
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