Koji Yamaguchi (山口晃司) is a Japanese shamisen virtuoso (incl. Tsugaru style) renowned for his high-impact stage presence and breathtaking speed—often introduced as the “world’s fastest shamisen player.”

According to his official profile, he first picked up the shamisen at the age of five and went on to win major competitions in the traditional-music scene. Musically, Yamaguchi is known for pushing the instrument into the present: combining traditional technique with modern crossover ideas, including collaborations that blend shamisen with contemporary textures such as beatbox-style features.

Beyond performing, he is active as a culture/PR ambassador in several capacities (incl. Nagoya-related initiatives) and tours across Japan and internationally. In Germany, he has appeared live at Main Matsuri, also taking part in special collaborative shows that merge Japanese tradition, rock energy, and performance art.