Career
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 early 2000s (decade) 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 Takeharu attended a Bill Monroe concert in Tokyo and shook his hand, thus inspiring Takeharu to play bluegrass. of music video for "Tai Tai Zukushi".
