Takeharu Kunimoto
Actor, Composer
November 1, 1960 — December 24, 2015 (55 years)
Takeharu Kunimoto (国本武春, Kunimoto Takeharu, November 1, 1960 – December 24, 2015) was a prominent Japanese shamisen player and rōkyoku singer. In addition to performing and recording traditional music, he was also the only prominent shamisen player to perform and record bluegrass music; he spent some time in the 2000s in the bluegrass program of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. He also performed and record in a rock music-influenced style. At the age of 14 Kunimoto attended a Bill Monroe concert in Tokyo and shook his hand, thus inspiring Takeharu to play bluegrass. Kunimoto died at the age of 55 on December 24, 2015, following an illness.
Filmography
| 2009 | Musashi: The Dream of the Last Samurai · as Rōkyoku |
| 2005 | One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island · as Ochanomababa |
| 2002 | Monkey Typhoon · as Tongo (voice) |
| 2002 | The Mountain Head · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2000 |
| 2010 | Journeys in Japan · as Composer |
| 2002 |