What does it mean to play "someone else's music"? Intimate Distancedelves into this question through a focus on Bolivian musicians whotour Japan playing Andean music and Japanese audiences who oftengo beyond fandom to take up these musical forms as hobbyists andeven as professional musicians. Michelle Bigenho conducted part of herethnographic research while performing with Bolivian musicians as theytoured Japan. Drawing on interviews with Bolivian musicians, as wellas Japanese fans and performers of these traditions, Bigenho exploreshow transcultural intimacy is produced through Andean music and itsperformance.