It is frequently used in Japan for making low-end Shamisen.
American Tsugaru-jamisen player and guitarist Kevin Kmetz leads a rock band called God of Shamisen, which is based in Santa Cruz, California, and also plays the instrument with the band Estradasphere.
Nagasawa composed for traditional Japanese musical instruments (e.g., Shakuhachi, Koto, Shamisen).
KiKi KaiKais soundtrack, composed by Hisayoshi Ogura, is reflective of traditional Japanese folk music, mostly utilizing woodwind and string instruments like the shamisen with an electronic beat.