The Internet is cool. I can just sit here and pretend I'm sitting in some public space in Japan listening to ragtime. Thanks world.

You play extremely well. I think many of people in your audience had no idea how hard the pieces were you play, and with how much mastery you played them.

Has expression and dynamics like a concert pianist.

The power of Mr. Joplin's music is incredible. The ability to still be recognized and revered 100 years later and to cross cultures like this. Incredible. And terrific playing Mr. Hamada, very talented!

I only came across this video by accident, and only started watching it out of curiosity over how well Takashi Hamada would interpret Ragtime music on his guitar (particularly perhaps as he is I assume Japanese and would therefore be likely to have quite a different musical culture). I have to say however, that I became quite hooked on his playing, and ended up watching the whole of his somewhat impromptu concert as it was superb. He is not only a great musician, but also seems to be a really nice guy. Very humble, and seemingly unaware of how talented he is. Maybe he has a full time career in some other field, but if he would like to be on stage full time, he should definitely make some more you-tube videos, as they would bring him to a much wider audience through which he would I'm sure become well known quite rapidly. Perhaps he could add a radio mike to his equipment, as it was quite difficult to hear him when he was speaking. And perhaps his 'camera-man' could get in a bit more practice before the next video maybe :-). I will keep an eye out for more of his performances. Very listenable!

Passers by: Passing by Audience: Rhubarbrhubarbrhubarb Mr. Hamada: Casting his pearls before swine. What a guitar player!

This guy is good he’s got a fantastic feel for Radtime.

As a skilled finger picker I will tell one and all that this guy is really good. Great " Maple Leaf Rag" . Very technical, and, he plays clean and strong. Better than me Dammit!

Strange to say, many good ragtime guitarists in Japan were born or raised in Hokkaido.As a Japanese ,I am still wondering. Ragtime music is not so popular however final stage of finger picking will be this music. They are basically musicians not just players as they have to arrange or compose their own ragtime tunes.Finally Mr. Hamada is famous among finger pickers in Japan.

I love this guy! He comes off almost a bit shy at first, but then he just jumps right in to the tune and doesn't stop bumbling the whole time. Great performance.

Whoever put this up,... THANK U! This guy is AWESOME! Take it from a guitarist who has dabbled in ragtime, this is the most involved and difficult music I’ve ever played and he does it so fluently and misses not a note!!

The very best guitar rendition of "Roberto Clemente's Song" !!! Thank-you. Beautifully played.

Beautiful...simply beautiful! Thank you Mr.Takashi Hamada for sharing your vision and passion.

Simplethunder is right, Takashi Hamada, you are quite a spectacle to behold. Such poignant grace and gusto with such difficult finger style guitar playing. Bravo!

Takashi, you really played Maple Leaf Rag well. I'm a blues player who performs in the clubs on Beale Street in Memphis, TN USA. You inspire me! Keep it up, man! Nice picking indeed. Enjoyed it.

Truly one of the great ragtime guitarists I’ve ever heard, if not the finest.

Excellent guitarist. I love how he holds the guitar in classical position. This video shows the main reason I stopped playing publicly. The crowd was rude. If they didn't want to listen they should have moved so those who wanted to could.

An absolute joy. What a lovely chap. Great music played deftly and with love. Mr Joplin would indeed be very happy. If Tommy (the deity) Emmanuel is out there and listening, take this beguiling young man on tour with you, immediately! Mr Hamada, all I can really say is, jolly good, well done and yours, moved to tears, Richard Barry (UK)

Wow, some of those arrangements are solid!! He makes them feel so effortless. In awe

This man is an excellent player, and a mile better than some of the jokers who presume to give lessons here on KZfaq!

Dear Mr. Hamada, I just listened to your entire concert. Thank you So Much!! You are such an excellent guitarist and arranger. So very impressed! It happens i play maple leaf rag on the piano, therefore i recognize that your playing and arrangement captures the very essence of the piano piece- which is very difficult to do and play it play it on the guitar seemingly so effortlessly with such feeling and expression. am so glad to have found your concert on the internet. Thank you very much. i should mention that i also have played guitar for over 30 years and studied ragtime guitar pieces - only a few of which i was able to master … main one being dallas rag. I was never able to play Scott Joplin on the guitar, which is a reason i can so appreciate your playing. Thank you very much. i am writing from New York. All the very best to you, Ceil

well..so much for my playing! This gentleman deserves wide exposure!

I'm going to listen again...outstanding musicianship and played with love...can't get enough of that in the world!

I dont believe I've ever heard a more heartfelt version of The Entertainer on guitar..... Crying tears of joy my friend... dude you are amazing. Much love to you

This is timeless and beautiful. Mr. Hamada, your playing brings tears to my eyes, warms my cynical, black heart and restores my faith in humans.

Mr. Hamada, your performances are so wonderful that they deserve a more appreciative audience, for instance, all the ragtime guitar fans in the world. You would do us all of a huge favor if you would re-record these pieces in a quiet setting and post them.

Some of the best ragtime guitar online

こんなすごいラグタイムギターの演奏に「素通り」 「騒ぎ」全くもって生徒たちの感性の枯渇に悲しみがとまらないよ。

Congratulations Mr. Takashi Hamada: Excelent performance.

Desde Bogota, Colombia, South America reciba un saludo especial sr.Takashi .Que delicia de sonido

--- Very great job ! A nice moment with a good ragtime guitarist ! Wonderful ---

What an amazing fingerstyle guitarist, maybe the best version of 'Maple Leaf Rag' I've seen, that is a tough piece! Bravo, Mr. Hamada!

He moulds the phrases *exquisitely*! I love the slight stretching of certain beats. He strokes those strings like a cat lover stroking a cat, and the guitar responds like a happy cat purring. My eardrums are in awed delight to hear these pieces played so purrfectly.

I've played lots of music -- including many Joplin rags on piano and a few on guitar -- and listened to much. Mr. Hamada's playing is uniquely beautiful and satisfying, for more reasons than I can cite in a short space.

I don't think anyone could better him, very nice.

Stunning performance. Very, very well done!

I just stumbled onto this video and was intrigued to hear a guitar play ragtime. Excellent! I think this guy is amazing! Most enjoyable.

If I had been there, I would have sat as close as I dared to savour every nuance!

Love it: real Ragtime playing. Perfect timing!

This guy plays like I dream to. Arigato

Wonderful and charming guitar playing. Sweet stuff

Really good guitarist. He would get more attention if he updated his playlist.

Well, that sure made my day. THANX!

most beautiful version that I have see on youtube... great!

Excellent 🙏👍👏Thank You

ahhh, music, the international language, great playing

I've been a fan of Mr. Hamada for some time. I appreciate his true sprit of ragtime in his renditions. Thanks!

Very good, love it,

Thank you Mr. Hamada, difficult pieces played very well Best Wishes from the West of England.

What a shame such a talented performer is wasted in such a venue.

This man is gifted!

Audience needed to be quiet while this gent performed. He did an excellent job playing these rags. They could have given him a little more respect. A Joplin Rag is a job to master on piano and is just as hard on guitar. I enjoy seeing anyone perform these songs on guitar. Inspires me to want to learn them on guitar.

Brilliant !

A great musician...

Wonderful !! - like an oasis in the desert !

Takashi plays good ragtime blues.

what can i say - Bravo Maestro!

Great stuff!

Incredibly well played. Thank you for uploading

Can barely understand him but dang does he play some good soundin' guitar.

Impeccable. If the people present only knew what was before them they would not be murmuring and instead be listening to this master of his art. Could anyone on campus be as skillful at anything as Mr. Takashi Hamada, is at his guitar music?

Played this video on a Sunday morning. Very entertaining.

この人のことを知らなくて申し訳ないけれど、本当に上手い！ 間違いなくクラシックギターの出身だと思うけど、音が豊かで表現の幅がとても広い。 こんなの生で聞けたらいいのになぁ

Wow. This is so so good . Thank you .

Just seeing this 11 years later. Hope you are still well and playing. I love and appreciate the talent, and astounded by the ignorance and rudeness of people talking during your performance.

Unbeliveble 😮

Very Nice! A magical time

This guy is a very serious player !

wow, beautiful. thanks for the great my blue heaven

Absolutely amazing!

Belle interprétation des tubes de Guitar Marcel DADi ! :)

bravo!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful performance !

what i would give to be there and watch you play!! your genius is underappreciated my friend and I hope you know just how WONDERFUL you're interpretations are!!! God Bless you my friend

Very decent of you to play for the public in the open air Mr Hamada. Obviously far too good to be doing this as your normal occupation. You certainly should be getting well paid for your talent, and becoming well known also. You should take your talent on to a more international platform if you haven't done so already.

listened from beginning to end. simply beautiful

WoW! This guy should be recording!

He plays what he plays, as beautifully as Segavia plays what segovia plays(played, I know)!

Glad I found you on KZfaq ! Your playing is superb ! I really like all of the embellishment you add to the tunes. Keep on picking !! 🎶👍

Amazing. Ragtime is one of my fave alternative styles, its really beautiful. This is so difficult to learn on the guitar so thanks for sharing with us!

It is a shame that there is so much background noise. It wouyld be nice to hear him in a concert stage setting.

Wonderful

Excellent! Thanks so much for sharing,

2nd SJ piece is Peacherine Rag.

it's as much humble / as brilliant / y'r playing the skies / right from heaven / mayday--Mayday / it's new Pearl Harbor / using ragtime elegance / played with steady hand / instead of / old timer suicide planes / equally devastating / don't know who y're / and what you do besides / playing divine ragtime / but i know your music's elevating / and exalting / sure hope you're making a career of / your passion / and what y'do best -- warm regards from another ragtime player / Sunny California / USA

Really awesome

I don't find the people talking and walking in and out the frame distracting at all.

This is excellent work, and humbling (speaking as a performer). I expect Mr. Hamada will be gaining a new subscriber, too.

Nicely done ,worth listening to.

The third to last song, the Joplin, is called Peacherine Rag. Thanks for the upload.

Very, very entertaining!

いま、あなたはどうされていますか？ この素敵な映像は2012年UPされているので4年経っていますね。

Joplin can be played perfectly note for note but sterilized in the process. Mr. Takashi Hamada plays Joplin right, note for note, with soul.

Should been inside somewhere away from all the rabble....excellent! elastic fingers!

If Chet were alive, he'd probably honor you with the title of CGP.

great stuff! really inspiring

How can be such a thing possible.!!..;???

Mint

la piu bella versione di maple leaf rag

I agree - amazing performance & how ignorant & rude the audience seems to be.They obviously don't appreciate the hours & hours of practice that have gone into this .