Shamisen player Fumiyoshi Fumiyoshi (real name Fumiyoshi Kobayashi), who was based in Niigata City and active in Japan and abroad, passed away on September 26 at the age of 51, Fumiyoshi passed away on September 26, 2025, at the age of 51. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness and support we received during her life and would like to express our sincere condolences to her family. In accordance with the wishes of the deceased and his family, the wake and funeral service were held with immediate family members only. We are planning to hold a farewell party for everyone concerned at a later date. He also wrote to his fans, “During her life, the shamisen player Fumiyoshi Fumiyoshi was supported by many people, and her warm support has been a great encouragement to her. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for your kindness.” The company will announce the “Farewell Party” on its official website as soon as the details are worked out. Fumiyoshi Fumiyoshi had revealed last year that she was diagnosed with “immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy,” an intractable disease, in 2023. In February of this year, she announced on her official website that she would cancel her future activities due to poor health. Fumiyoshi Fumiyoshi, who is currently in poor health, has decided that she needs to devote herself to medical treatment. Therefore, we have decided to cancel all scheduled performance events and lectures. We will also suspend our activities for the time being,” the company announced. Fumiyoshi Fumiyoshi, born in Niigata City in 1974, began learning the Tsugaru shamisen at the age of 9 from her teacher and mother, Takeiku Takahashi, and started her professional career in 2000. Active in many fields as a shamisen player, artist, evangelist, and curator, he assumed the name of Takehide Takahashi, the third generation head of the Niigata Takahashi Takeyama-kai, in 1919, and gave a solo performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City, USA, in October of the same year.
TV Asahi