It's a band in which West meets East and old meets new. The members of Ryoma Quartet play four instruments between them: violin, three-stringed shamisen, shinobue flute and tsuzumi hand drum.
The band's latest album is titled "Samurize," a word coined from "samurai" and "sunrise." The 15-track album from Pony Canyon Inc. features elements of rock, funk and electronica, as the instrumentalists create a distinctive, well-balanced fusion of sounds.
Violinist Ryoma and shinobue player Sui use their instruments like a vocal duet, dynamically interacting as they take the lead in turn or create harmonies together. Masakatsu, who plays Tsugaru-jamisen, a type of shamisen from the Tsugaru region of Aomori Prefecture, provides riffs and backing sounds, but at times takes the lead himself with his powerful playing. Jin makes the band's music even more innovative, as he produces pleasant percussion with his tsuzumi while also calling out in a clear voice.
Ryoma Quartet's performances indicate that each member possesses not only technical skills but also a sophisticated musical sense. The band was formed in 2008 after Ryoma asked the three traditional music specialists to collaborate with him.
"What I had in mind for this band from the beginning was [that it should aim for] the world," the violinist said. "That was why I contacted the front-runners [in each field]."
Ryoma, who began playing the violin at age 5 and composing music at 14, started his professional career while attending Tokyo College of Music. As he expanded his activities at home and abroad, the musician found himself facing the question of his identity as a Japanese. The issue prompted him to form a band with professionals from the nation's traditional music scene.
"I was also confident such a band would create the kind of entertainment that is easy to appreciate and that only the Japanese can give," he added.
Ryoma first contacted Masakatsu, who was already a versatile performer, playing both traditional and modern music. He has won awards in a number of shamisen competitions and accompanies minyo ballad singers, while also leading his own band and composing music.
Masakatsu was willing to accept Ryoma's offer because "it sounded fresh to me to work with the violin, which produces very eloquent melodies," he recalled.
Jin and Sui have separate stage names as Tosha Roo and Tosha Suiho, respectively, because they belong to the Tosha school of hayashikata professional musicians who accompany kabuki performances.
"In our field, it's frowned upon if we do 'outside' activities," Jin said. "However, I didn't mind because I'm such an oddball that I'm often scolded by my master for trying to make myself look cool onstage."
In contrast, Sui said he thought about it a lot before agreeing. "I eventually made up my mind that it's necessary for [traditional] Japanese instruments to be exposed to outside eyes in various ways," he said.
Once Ryoma Quartet was formed, however, the members were initially indecisive about what kind of path they should pursue, and only a few years ago, the band fell into what can be described as an "ice age," partly because each of them had their own field to perform in.
"Our attitude was, 'We'll perform if asked,'" Masakatsu said. "Probably, none of us seriously thought that we'd develop our careers further with this band."
The turning point came in March 2014 when Ryoma Quartet gave concerts in Madrid and two other Spanish cities as part of a series of celebrations to mark the 400th anniversary of the first official diplomatic mission dispatched from Japan to the European country. Jin played a role in the band getting this opportunity because he had already taken part in a show of traditional Japanese dancing in Spain.
"We were finally given an opportunity to realize our band's concept of promoting Japan's traditional culture and spirit to the world," Ryoma said. "In the end, we received standing ovations and our CDs sold well, making us feel confident."
The momentum helped Ryoma Quartet make its major debut in July 2016 with their album "Neo Zipang" and also take part in the Japan Expo promotional event in Thailand that year and the following year. Last year, the members also performed at the Japan Expo in Malaysia and at an "Imperial Jazz" concert at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel.
Above all, the Spanish tour gave the band something crucial: a chance for the members to develop deep bonds with each other.
"It was the first time that we ate and stayed together for nearly 10 days," Ryoma recalled. "[That period] helped us respect each other and become confident that we can do something intriguing."
When the three other musicians were asked what they think of their young leader, Sui described him as "just powerful, in a word."
"He sometimes goes too far as he is still young," the shinobue player said. "But he has high ambitions, based on the belief that we shouldn't stay at this level."
Ryoma said each member should reach for the highest standards in their specialty. "And we can create even better music when the four of us perform together. This is how Ryoma Quartet should be," the violinist said. "In this sense, I'd like the other three members to work hard on their own activities in traditional music. Without them, there'd be no meaning in continuing."
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