Erina Katoh

Erina Kato (加藤 恵理奈) is a 民謡 (traditional folk music) singer and Tsugaru shamisen player from Obihiro, Hokkaido. She began learning folk songs around age three and started shamisen lessons from her father at ten, and soon won competitions. By 2010 she had won first place in the Hokkaido folk song category at the Dōshin Cup and the “Meijin” title at the national Ishikari River Nagarebushi contest.

She has since collected multiple grand prix awards, including at the All Japan New Folk Festival. She now heads the Kato-ryu Shamisen School, which her father led, and teaches and performs across Japan. Many of her songs are about the Tokachi region where she grew up. She appears in concerts and on radio, and produces a show called “Songs that resonate in the heart” for festivals, schools and town events. She is also part of the ensemble Ezo’n, combining shamisen, vocals, and traditional percussion, and has released albums like Utahime under Ezo’n Music.