高橋竹山 (Takahashi Chikuzan) was a renowned Japanese Tsugaru-jamisen* performer and composer. 高橋竹山 was born on 18 June 1910. He lost his sight at around age of three as a result of measles. He spent his childhood near his home town - he was accepted as a live-in apprentice of the Tsugaru-jamisen performer Toda Jūjirō. Before World War II he toured surrounding countryside, playing before doorsteps to earn a living. After the war he became more widely known as an accompanist for the famous Tsugaru folk singer Narita Unchiku. It was then that he assumed the stage name 竹山 (Chikuzan) - at birth he was named 定蔵 (Sadazō). In 1963 he released his first solo album, titled The World of Tsugaru shamisen (世界～津軽三味線) . Since 1973 he performed regularly at a a small venue called "Jan-jan" (ジァン・ジァン) in Shibuya (Tokyo). His performances often featured long solo improvisations, which he titled "Iwaki" (岩木) after the tallest mountain in Tsugaru. 高橋竹山 died from laryngeal cancer on 5 February 1998. --- * Tsugaru-jamisen (津軽三味線) is a genre of shamisen music originating from the Tsugaru area of Aomori prefecture, northern Honshū (Japan).