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The Fourth String: A Memoir of Sensei and Me
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The word sensei in Japanese literally means “one who came before,” but that’s not what Janet Pocorobba’s teacher wanted to be called. She used her first name, Western-style. She wore a velour Beatles cap and leather jacket, and she taught foreigners, in English, the three-stringed shamisen, an instrument that fell out of tune as soon as you started to play it. Vexed by the
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This memoir spoke to me on so many levels. This us simply a hidden gem that I discovered on Netgalley by accident.
As a music lover and Japan fan, I had to get my hands on this.
Janet, the author, studies shamisen and other traditional Japanese instruments like the drums under her sensei in Tokyo.
We follow her on her journey to find herself and how she lives as gaijin in Japan.
I had to look her up on YouTube and found this fantastic video about her talking about her novel and playing the shamisen. ...more
As a music lover and Japan fan, I had to get my hands on this.
Janet, the author, studies shamisen and other traditional Japanese instruments like the drums under her sensei in Tokyo.
We follow her on her journey to find herself and how she lives as gaijin in Japan.
I had to look her up on YouTube and found this fantastic video about her talking about her novel and playing the shamisen. ...more
My copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
I've been interested in Japan for a long time. Certainly since early high school and I think even before that. Although I've studied Japanese off and on, I've only traveled there twice for a total of 5 weeks. I'm particularly intrigued by the geisha and maiko culture who learn classical dance, singing, and music. In this book, the author comes to Japan to teach English and ends up finding a woman who's teaching the shamisen to ...more
I've been interested in Japan for a long time. Certainly since early high school and I think even before that. Although I've studied Japanese off and on, I've only traveled there twice for a total of 5 weeks. I'm particularly intrigued by the geisha and maiko culture who learn classical dance, singing, and music. In this book, the author comes to Japan to teach English and ends up finding a woman who's teaching the shamisen to ...more
WoW...........This Book was Just amazing and so beautifully written. The Fourth String by Janet Pocorobba it was a great find and I am so glad I found a quiet corner of my farmhouse to sit and read it. I read this book in two sittings and just sat back and was just amazed.
Big 5 stars for this amazing Book.
Big Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
Big 5 stars for this amazing Book.
Big Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.
A lovely memoir and interesting insight into Japanese culture, with a particular emphasis on the performing arts. "The Fourth String" is informative and a fitting tribute to what seems to be a very private and complex woman who has made an impact on the lives of her students in the pursuit of her own contentment.
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I'm thrilled to release the tale of my teacher in THE FOURTH STRING: A MEMOIR OF SENSEI AND ME. I've been involved with Japan for over twenty years, and have lectured on Japanese music and performed in concert halls, schools, museums, culture fairs, and backyards. I love immersing myself in extraordinary worlds and writing about them. Memoir isn't only about me! I'm now working on a book about the
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