Shakuhachi
Sinuous bamboo
Meticulous form for air
Breath turned sonic
One, fragile
sound
Welcome, I help people on their journey down this také no michi “bamboo path” by providing lessons and instruments. I pass-on the bygone regional styles of honkyoku. These are the solo Zen pieces originating from the Komuso monks. My students begin their journey with the essential honkyoku of the Seien Ryu from Fudaiji temple. I also teach honkyoku from the styles which their works inspired, such as Jin Nyodo’s, Watazumi’s, and Higuchi Taizan’s Myoan.
As for my journey, it began when I started crafting bamboo flutes in my teens as a complement to my meditation practice. The shakuhachi was the first instrument that I studied under a teacher, and I never looked back… I’ve since written a book and invented the first jinashi shakuhachi replicas which I named The Bell.
My YouTube video on how to play
In the above video, I attempt to show how to sound a shakuhachi. Of course, more in-depth, personalized instruction occurs in live shakuhachi lessons over Skype video chat. But hopefully this helps…
Do you need a shakuhachi? The Bell
I craft and play the older jinashi style of shakuhachi which are mostly natural bamboo on the inside. Conversely, contemporary jiari style shakuhachi are mostly plaster or glue on the inside. While the jiari quickly became the new standard, making jinashi largely relics of the past, jinashi are enjoying a full-fledged renaissance in recent times.
As for crafting, jiari are easier to craft because a predetermined bore shape is cast or formed inside of the bamboo. The length can also be adjusted via joints. As one might imagine, crafting jinashi to a high level can often be much more difficult because the maker has to rely much more on what nature gives them. Acquiring suitable madaké bamboo is immensely important, and difficult. When crafted expertly, jinashi offer an entirely unequaled experience.