Tsugaru-jamisen() is a genre of shamisen music originating in Aomori prefecture in the northernmost area of the Japanese island of Honshū. It is today performed throughout Japan, though associations with the Tsugaru area of Aomori remain strong. The genre is played on a large shamisen with thicker strings than those used for most other styles.

Unlike other forms of shamisen that use cat skin as a covering for the do, or soundbox, the Tsugaru-jamisen uses dog skin as its traditional material. The bachi (plectrum) is proportionately small. Tsugaru-jamisen is easy to recognize by its percussive quality (the plectrum striking the body of the instrument on each stroke) and the lilt of the rhythms performed.

Unlike most other Japanese music, some Tsugaru-jamisen pieces are in triple time, though the three beats are not accentuated in the manner of Western music. Tsugaru-jamisen has a large and steadily growing repertory. Details are of course arguable and there is some variation among performers.

Interviews with noted shamisen virtuosi such as Takahashi Chikuzan and Yamada Chisato and recordings issued by stars of the past allow one to produce the following table. It should be noted that most titles given below exist in two versions: in song form (a vocal line with shamisen and drum (taiko) accompaniment) and as a solo shamisen piece (see sixth group below). Recently, younger performers have been attempting to combine Tsugaru-jamisen playing styles or motives with jazz, rock, and other forms of more commercial music.

With the exception of the shin min’yō of group E these songs are usually considered to be “traditional.”

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