When Metal Meets the Shamisen

What happens when you mix heavy metal with traditional Japanese music?

Jero11 is a scientist by day and a heavy-metal shamisen player by night. He started out as a guitar hobbyist, but his fascination with Japanese culture drew him to the shamisen. Inspired by the idea of merging traditional shamisen styles with his metal influences, he now travels across the UK and Japan, sharing this unique and often overlooked facet of Japanese culture.

I first connected with Jerome while photographing Japan Matsuri 2025, where I was immediately captivated by his distinctive style and his ability to engage with the audience. Although I had some prior familiarity with the shamisen, my conversation with Jerome not only deepened my understanding of this traditional Japanese instrument, but it sparked a growing fascination with the broader discourse surrounding the fusion of cultural influences in music, particularly the question of whether tradition should define the way an instrument is played, or whether it can evolve through cross-cultural reinterpretation.

Knowing that Jerome had several upcoming performances in London, I reached out to document his work across two key events: Pawaa Up, a music night he personally organised, and a performance at a local Japanese Christmas market. These moments gradually evolved into a narrative tracing his personal journey, charting his growing confidence and his exploration of blending diverse cultural influences within his practice. The final film ultimately culminates in a grand finale, showcasing one of his performances as both a creative and personal milestone.