It’s been one year since I started playing the erhu. I’m still very much a beginner, but I’m taking on my second street live performance in Tokyo. There will also be a live stream. September 5, 2025 Reading time: 3 minutes Updated: September 19, 2025 Hello, this is TAKUROMAN. Suddenly, do you know what an erhu is? It’s a traditional Chinese instrument that produces sound by bowing its strings. I started playing it last September, so it’s almost been a year. Honestly, I’m still not very good. Even so, next month I’ll be doing a “1 Year Anniversary” street live in Tokyo. This is actually my second attempt since my first challenge on the 100th day. I’m nervous 🫨 The character NIKOROMAN was born during my first street live. Why the erhu in an age when AI can create anything? I couldn’t forget my dream, so at 35 I enrolled full-time in a manga school from scratch and learned to draw. After that, I started working as a digital artist. But with the rise of AI, I began to question the meaning of human creation. In August this year, I released a work titled “The Funeral of Human Creativity,” asking, “Is there any creativity left for humans?” In that context, I realized this: if AI can produce perfect performances instantly, then maybe there’s value in “taking time, being unskilled, and producing sound with your own hands.” Even if it’s inefficient, I wanted to try something only a human can do. What I learned from my first street live About 100 days after starting the erhu, I did my first street live in Kabukicho. My pitch was shaky, and my hands trembled. Still, passersby stopped to listen. Even if it wasn’t perfect, something came across. Maybe they thought, “He’s trying hard because he’s not good yet.” Not “after I get better,” but “because it’s now” People often say, “Wait until you get better to perform in front of others,” but I think it’s the opposite. The earnestness and imperfection of a beginner are what make us human. Especially in an age when AI efficiently handles everything, there’s meaning in the feeling of “It’s inefficient, but this is what I want to do.” Event Details Event Name: 1 Year Anniversary Street Live Date & Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 14:00–15:00 Venue: Keio Crown-gai Sasazuka Keyaki Plaza (in front of Keio Sasazuka Station / 1-56 Sasazuka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) Format: Authorized street live at Sasazuka Station artspot Admission: Free Program: Japanese folk songs, J-POP, Ghibli music, etc. *I also plan to challenge solo multi-track performances (“Solo Ensemble”) Streaming: Online streaming planned (Instagram Live, YouTube Live) Rain Policy: The event will proceed in light rain but will be canceled in severe weather. (Online streaming only in case of cancellation) Requests for Attendees Please refrain from shouting or clapping hands to respect nearby residents. Small applause after performances is generally acceptable, but please be mindful if the audience grows larger. Please feel free to take photos and videos of the live performance 😊😊 If you have time or find it a bit interesting, please come listen. Don’t expect perfect playing (lol). But I’m sure it will be fun. Also, the erhu is a very beautiful-sounding instrument. I’d be happy if you could experience its resonance. Online Streaming Live streaming will be available on TAKUROMAN’s Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Around 14:10 on Saturday, September 20, please check the following links: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takuroman - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@takuroman400 - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@takuroman_artist About Rain The event will proceed in light rain but will be canceled in severe weather. In that case, announcements will be made on X (@TryingUnity). In any case, live streaming will be held simultaneously, so please watch online.