Arigatou Ni Takahashi Chikuzan.

We get on a train for Aomori. We decide we don't want to drive this time because we are heading somewhere downtown, and it's not a fun place to park a car.

We arrive at the train station, and immediately head outside and walk down the main strip of the city. Our eyes are on the lookout for "Cleopatra Cafe", since we were told that our destination was right next door.

I am familiar with these streets, and I have a decent idea of where I am. However, I have never seen this particular cafe , so we stay vigilant with our eyes open. It's raining lightly, despite this, there is still a young lady singing on the sidewalk along with a guitarist.

3 or 4 blocks later, we spot a Egyptian statue sitting on the sidewalk, mildly resembling Cleopatra. Lo and behold, the next building is the small space where the event is being held: "Arigatou ni Chikuzan" in honor of the famous and influential Shamisen player, Takahashi Chikuzan.

The place is practically filled already, and we have to squeeze down in the front row and sit off to the side. Good thing though, because we have front row seats this way!

We wait around until a woman named "Nishikawa Yoko", sits down with a shamisen, along with an old man and the MC.

The basic idea of the whole thing, is that she was a student of Chikuzan. She plays his shamisen, and talks about his style, what he was like, and how it was learning from him.

We can't understand most of what she says, due to the fact that she is speaking in Tsugaru (north western Japan) dialect. She notices us and speaks to Kevin a few times. She asks us if we have any song requests and about where we are from. I suppose we are somewhat of a novelty, seeing how most of the audience is filled with old Japanese people.

Anyway, once it's all over, we get up and talk with her outside. Kyle even gives her his book he wrote (about building and playing your very own Shamisen).

After the small intermission, we sit back down. However, the only thing that happens for the rest of the time, is the passing around of old pottery and ceramic figures... apparently the old man mentioned earlier has something to do with them.

Once that concludes, everyone gets up to leave. Suddenly. though, a few staff people run out from backstage with big white trays. Upon closer inspection, we realize that these vessels are filled with pound cake.

And as if that wasn't enough, they hastily begin pulling out slices of the stuff, and insisting it upon anyway nearby (including us). It tastes good, but it leaves my hands sticky.

Our business wrapped up in Aomoro City, we make our way back to the train station.

Along the way, we encounter two long rows of school girls on the sidewalk. However this time they tell us "my heart for you!" as they pass us their fliers. Silly ladies.

Before we hop on the train, we decide to break out our Shamisens for a little bit and play...

however no one actually seems to be interested at all and it's cold, so we pack up pretty quickly and bail out.