Welcome to the shakuhachi guides section. As a professional shakuhachi teacher and craftsperson I have been asked countless questions over the years. Here I’ve endeavored to provide the best information that I can on some of the most popular topics. This can be a very esoteric practice, however, it is my wish to make it more inclusive.
Contact me at flutedojo@gmail.com for a free one-on-one shakuhachi lesson over video chat
If you need an instrument please consider my Bell shakuhachi
Shakuhachi guides
Fundamentals
- Glossary of frequently used terms
- How to buy shakuhachi
- Note charts Updated 1/21/2019
- “What are shakuhachi and what makes them unique?”
- How to play shakuhachi (video)
The instrument
- All about pitch on the shakuhachi or “being in tune”
- Japanese madaké bamboo (P. Bambusoides)
- Cracking, oil, and binding repairs
- Caring for shakuhachi with video on how to tie a cleaning-cloth knot or “tsuyutoshi”
- Types of shakuhachi explained – jiari, jinashi, and hocchiku
- “What determines the sound and feeling of a shakuhachi”?
- “Why are shakuhachi expensive?”
- shaku Japanese measurement
- Lacquer – Urushi and others
Making a shakuhachi video series
History
The Unique Regional Honkyoku that I teach
The Seien Ryu (Fudaiji) – Shizuoka and Aichi Prefectures
The Kinpu Ryu (Nezasa-ha) – Aomori Prefecture
Oshu and Echigo (Fudaiken, Kinjoji, and Echigo Myoanji) – Northern Japan
Additionally, I teach select pieces from Jin Nyodo, Watazumi/Yokayama Katsuya’s Dokyoku/Chikushinkai, Higuchi Taizan’s Myoan-ha, Kyushu kei/Itchoken, and the Shinpo Ryu from Kyoto.
People mentioned on this website
- Araki Chikuo (Kodo II)
- Fuke Zenji (historical/fictional)
- Higuchi Taizan (Suzuki Kodo)
- Iwata Seien VI
- Jin Nyodo
- Justin Senryu Williams
- Watazumi (Tanaka Masaru)