History · Est. 2006

Twenty years of Monsters

Monsters of Shamisen formed in the spring of 2006, when Kevin Kmetz and Mike Penny, two players from California, met Masahiro Nitta of Sapporo. All three had won awards at Japan's national Tsugaru shamisen tournaments.

Since then the group has toured in the United States and Japan, released three albums and grown from a trio into an ensemble.

Today's Ensemble

Old friends and new professional players

Now
From trio to ensemble
Today Monsters of Shamisen performs as an ensemble of up to ten players from the United States and Japan, with a lineup that changes from show to show.

2012–2016

The Stellar Era

Masahiro Nitta · Kevin Kmetz · Kyle Abbott

2016
"Azuma no Michi" live
A live recording from the trio.
2014
Resonance
The third album follows in March.
2013
Stellar
The second album is funded by fans on Kickstarter and released in July.
2012
Kyle Abbott joins
The founder of Bachido begins performing with the group.

2006–2011

The Founding Trio

Masahiro Nitta · Kevin Kmetz · Mike Penny

2011
Mountain West tour
A February tour of Colorado, sponsored by the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan in Denver.
2009
First album and Hokkaido tour
Monsters of Shamisen 1st is released in May, alongside shows in Sapporo and Kushiro.
2008
"Far Beyond the Sun"
The trio releases a music video.
2007
Award at the national tournament
In May an expanded lineup wins a group award in Kanagi, Aomori, playing "Kita no Hibiki" by Hiroshi Nitta.
2007
First California tour
Shows in January include San Francisco, Berkeley, Santa Cruz and Claremont.
2006
The group forms
Kevin Kmetz and Mike Penny of California join Masahiro Nitta of Sapporo.

The Monster spirit

Like many ensembles in Japan, the group has players who come and go. Anyone who is passionate about shamisen, plays the songs well and shares the group's style is warmly welcomed as a Monster.

Meet the Monsters