I just read your comment and it sounds like at least a few of our interests overlap :) So yes!

Where did you start playing the hichiriki? It looks like an interesting instrument, but I've never had the chance to try it out.
I started playing koto, because I was living in Japan (during an exchange) and I hadn't brought my harp with me. Then the music teacher at a nearby elementary school was looking for people to join her koto group for a performance, and because they knew I played harp, they asked me to join. Part of the performance was recorded.