Head over to the Mission Memorial Auditorium today if you’re interested in having “The Shamisen Experience.”

Evolved from the Chinese sanshin, the shamisen dates back to 16th century Okinawa; the stringed instrument gained popularity as background music for kabuki in the early 1700s.
Japanese shamisen grand master Kineya Sakichi VII, accompanied by Hawaiçi’s Bryson Teruo Goda and Stacie Akemi Hata, will perform free from 1 to 3 p.m., courtesy of the Hanayagi Dancing Academy.
The auditorium is on the municipal grounds between Honolulu Hale and the Fasi Municipal Building. For more information, call 235-4037.