It has been one year since I started playing the erhu. I’m still a beginner, but I’ll be challenging myself with my second street performance in Tokyo.

TAKUROMAN
6 days ago
2 min read

Hi, this is TAKUROMAN.

Do you know the erhu? It’s a traditional Chinese instrument, played with a bow rubbing the strings to create sound. I started last September, and it’s almost been a year now. Honestly, I’m still not very good.

Even so, next month I’ll be doing a “1 Year Erhu Anniversary” street performance in Tokyo. It’ll be my second challenge since my 100th day. I’m nervous 🫨

Why the Erhu in an Age When AI Can Create Anything?

I couldn’t let go of my dream, so at the age of 35, I entered a manga school full-time from scratch and studied drawing. After that, I began working as a digital artist.

But with the arrival of AI, I started to question the meaning of human creation. This August, I presented a work called “The Funeral of Human Creativity,” asking the question: “Does humanity still possess creativity?”

That’s when it hit me. If AI can create a flawless performance instantly, then maybe the opposite has value: “taking time, making mistakes, but producing sound with my own hands.” Even if it’s inefficient, I want to do something precisely because I’m human.

What I Realized in My First Street Live

About 100 days after I started playing the erhu, I performed my first street live in Kabukicho. My pitch was shaky, my hands were trembling.

And yet, some passersby stopped to listen. Something can still be conveyed even when it isn’t perfect. Perhaps it was precisely because I was clumsy that people felt I was giving my all.

Not “When I Get Better” but “Because It’s Now”

People often say, “I’ll stand in front of others once I’m better.” But I think the opposite. The earnestness and imperfection of a beginner are what make us human. In this age when AI can do everything efficiently, the very feeling of “I know it’s inefficient, but I still want to do this” holds meaning.

Event Information

Event Name: 1 Year Anniversary Street Live

Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 14:00–15:00

Venue: Keyaki Plaza, Keio Crown Street Sasazuka (in front of Keio Sasazuka Station / 1-56 Sasazuka, Shibuya, Tokyo)

Format: Authorized street live (artspot program, Sasazuka Station)

Admission: Free

Program: Japanese folk songs, J-POP, Studio Ghibli music, etc. (I’ll also try a one-person multi-layered performance: a “solo ensemble”)

Streaming: Planned on Instagram Live & YouTube Live

Rain Policy: Canceled (streaming only if weather prevents live performance)

Requests for Attendees

Out of respect for the neighborhood, please refrain from cheering or clapping along during the performance. Small applause at the end is fine, but be mindful if the crowd grows.
Please feel free to take photos and videos of the live show 😊😊

If you have time or think this sounds interesting, please come and listen. Don’t expect a perfect performance (lol). But I promise it’ll be fun. The erhu produces such a beautiful tone—I’d be delighted if you could experience its resonance.

Online Streaming

The live performance will be streamed on TAKUROMAN’s Instagram and YouTube accounts.Please check the links below around 14:10 on Saturday, September 20.