When it was over, she showed me some basics. I was very shy since I'd just observed the class and the borrowed picks didn't fit very well on my fingers.
Afterwords the owner of the academy asked if we had met before. He did seem familiar, so I said, "likely." And then he asked if I knew Marco. Which, yes I do. So apparently local Japanese music community is small enough. The teacher had also met some one from ONE, my best guess being Mark.
The teacher was also very pleasantly surprised that I could read kanji numbers.
As I was leaving they were also getting out some shamisen. I didn't think to ask if they gave sanshin lessons.
Now I just have to find money for a few lessons.