Welcome to the shakuhachi guides section. As a professional shakuhachi teacher and maker I have endeavored to provide the most accurate and succinct information here on this page. If you would like to take live lessons over Skype contact me and I will be happy to arrange a complimentary one for you. I teach the unique regional styles of solo shakuhachi music known as honkyoku which were mostly composed by the Komuso monks during the Edo period. I also teach pieces from post Edo period schools and styles such as those created by Watazumi, Jin Nyodo, and Higuchi Taizan.
If you need an affordable 1.8 “D” for lessons contact me and I will be happy to assist you in acquiring one.
I endeavor to provide a growing resource of free shakuhachi guides here on my website. My shakuhachi guides and videos have helped people to make their first sounds and to better understand this instrument and its classical music. You will find information on a number of essential topics which I have tried to make as clear and non-bias as possible. This is a very esoteric practice, however, it is my wish to make it more inclusive. If there are any topics which you would like to see a guide made for please don’t hesitate to request it of me. I’m always happy to help.
Shakuhachi guides
The fundamentals
The instrument
- “What are shakuhachi and what makes them unique?”
- How to play shakuhachi (video)
- Note charts
- NEW! – All about pitch on the shakuhachi or “being in tune”
- shaku Japanese measurement
- Types of shakuhachi explained – jiari, jinashi, and hocchiku
- Japanese Madake bambo (P. Bambusoides)
- “What determines the sound of a shakuhachi?”
- Caring for shakuhachi
- Cracking, oil, and binding repairs
- Lacquer – Urushi and others
History
Edo period and post Edo period honkyoku styles
In order of how I teach. No link means I don’t teach them yet. Post Edo period schools can be taught at any point as well.)
Regional Edo period styles
- Seien Ryu – Hamamatsu and now Nagoya, Fudai-ji (temple)
- Kyu Myoan (Kichiku and Shinpo Ryu) – Kyoto, original Myoan-ji (temple)
- Kinpu Ryu – Tsugaru, Aomori
- Oshu-kei and Echigo Myoan-ji den – Tohoku and Joetsu regions
- Kinko Ryu (Itchigetsu-ji and Reiho-ji) – Kansai
- Kyushu-kei Itcho-ken and other temples (very fragmented style, may be able to teach someday…)
Post Edo period
- Taizan ha/Ryu “Myoan” – Higuchi Taizan (1856-1914), Kyoto.
- Jin Nyodo kei – Jin Nyodo (1891 – 1966), Tokyo.
- Dokyoku/Chikushinkai – Watazumi (1911-1992), Tokyo.
People
- Araki Chikuo (Kodo II)
- Fuke Zenji (historical/fictional)
- Higuchi Taizan (Suzuki Kodo)
- Iwata Seien VI
- Jin Nyodo
- Jon Kypros
- Justin Senryu Williams (Justin’s website)
- Watazumi (Tanaka Masaru)