The International Shakuhachi Society

Events

World Shakuhachi Festival - Sydney Australia, July 4-8, 2008

A world-wide gathering of renowned shakuhachi players, Living National Treasures from Japan, professional performers, scholars, absolute beginners and shakuhachi enthusiasts will be held in Australia for the first time.

The Festival features concerts, workshops, master classes, seminars, exhibits and the International Shakuhachi Chamber Music Composition Competition 2008.

Shakuhachi Chamber Music Composition Competition 2008

The aims of this open international composition competition are to:

- promote the shakuhachi as a modern 'classical' instrument
- demonstrate the capabilities of the shakuhachi in ensemble with western instruments
- stimulate composition for shakuhachi together with western instruments and chamber groups.

Deadline for entires is January 15, 2008
Finalist pieces for this international competition will be performed by the world’s best players attending the World Shakuhachi Festival 2008.

This site also contains a registry of modern shakuhachi compositions.

Ki-Sui-An Shakuhachi Summer Camp (USA) - Annual - 8/29-9/1 2008

Staff of 9 led by Kurahashi Yoshio Sensei and Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
Private and group study sessions
Rustic, rural setting in Pennsylvania (30 Miles West of Philadelphia)
Healthy organic home-cooked food, outdoor swimming pool, and the company of farm animals
Join in the fun and experience a rich and varied musical learning adventure
Accommodations and meals are included in the registration package
A full teaching schedule including a local public performance are part of the program

Shakuhachi Summer Camp of the Rockies, Colorado - Annual

Featuring one of the most impressive gatherings of shakuhachi teachers annually outside of Japan, this camp provides an intense learning environment that will facilitate dramatic progress in your shakuhachi ability and a deepened understanding of the instrument and its broad musical repertoire.

5-day Intensive Shakuhachi Retreat at Bamboo-In - Summer Only

In keeping with the spirit and tradition of shakuhachi learning, Bamboo-In offers an Intensive Retreat Program (IRP) for serious shakuhachi students. The Intensive Retreat Program enables students to stay and practice/study shakuhachi at Bamboo-In. The maximum number of retreat participants is 2.

Bamboo-In is a shakuhachi center owned and operated by Alcvin and Sandra Ramos. Situated on the stunning Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada in the picturesque outreaches of Pender Harbour, Bamboo-In is a place focusing on the practice of shakuhachi. Nestled amidst the landscape of islands, coves, lakes and reefs, and reflecting
the great beauty and diversity of the Sunshine Coast, the retreat center grounds are alive with plants and animals, including a rich and varied bird population. Bamboo-In features a karesansui (dry rock garden), manicured garden, and shakuhachi meditation room. We are located approximately 40 km from downtown Sechelt, and 2 hours from the
Vancouver International airport. Within the Bamboo-In grounds is also the pottery studio and workshop of ceramic artist, Sandra Ramos, featuring a salt-wood fired kiln. Just 10 minutes drive from the Sunshine Ch'an (Zen) Monastery and 10 minutes walk from the ocean on quiet country roads, Bamboo-In is ideal for growing and deepening shakuhachi practice and meditation.

Businesses

Tai Hei Shakuhachi (shakuhachi.com)

Monty Levenson's site is a total resource for Shakuhachi - the traditional Japanese bamboo flute. From here you can find quality instruments (beginner, student & professional models) along with complete information on the subject including: playing guides, flute craft manuals, books, sheet music, recordings, teachers, schools, organizations, ethnic bamboo flutes around the world and much more.

Mejiro

Mejiro Co., Ltd. is a store in Tokyo, Japan, devoted to the Japanese bamboo flute. They deal in Shakuhachi and Shinobue, selling both flutes for all levels of player and any and every kind of tool for making or repairing your own.

Hogaku Journal (Japanese Only)

A source for information about Japanese music. The web site also sells a large collection of CDs.

Yung Flutes - Shakuhachi for sale

Perry Yung is a multi-talented artist, craftsman, and performer. In 2002, he was the first American to receive a Japan-US Friendship Grant to specifically study shakuhachi making in Japan. When Perry is not making or playing shakuhachi, he creates and performs contemporary theater with the SLANT Performance Group, and designs sets for Maura Nguyen Donohue and In Mixed Company.

Japan Shakuhachi

A site listing several Japanese shakuhachi makers.

Sparkling Beatnik Records

Sparkling Beatnik produces the best of world music (especially Japanese) and contemporary experimental music.

Brian Franklin's Shakuhachi Listings

Brian provides a complimentary listing of many of shakuhachi for sale. This is the place to find or sell a used flute.

Bamboo Music

Here you'll find shakuhachi flutes made by Ken LaCosse of San Francisco, California. Mujitsu Shakuhachi are played by students, teachers and professional musicians throughout the world. These shakuhachi are made using a traditional hand adjusted bore technique.

Organizations

Tozan Ryu (Japanese Only)

Home page for Japan's most popular school of shakuhachi music.

Chikuho Ryu

Koto no Koto

The best koto site I've found. Educational information about the koto with detailed information about performers recordings and books.

Chikumeisha

The Chikumeisha was established as a body of professional shakuhachi performers in 1921, centered around Shiro Yamaguchi. When he passed away in November 1963, his son Goro Yamaguchi continued in his father's footsteps and further developed the tradition. Regretfully, Goro Yamaguchi passed away on January 3, 1999, due to illness, but his disciples who had been studying his art have continued the Chikumeisha guild since. By means of their various activities they are trying to stay in touch with those who want to learn about and study the wonderful art forms our teachers transmitted. They would happy to hear from anybody who is interested.

Chikuyusha

A Kinko school founded in 1894 by KAWASE Junsuke I. Published music for the first time in the modern "Futoten" style in 1903.

Shakuhachi Society of British Columbia

SSBC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the ultimate goal of spreading the history, culture, and art of playing the Shakuahchi. Our mandate is to educate the public about Japanese musical arts and share its beauty for enrichment of the entire community.

Bamboo-In

Bamboo-In, situated on the stunning sunshine coast of British Columbia in the picturesque outreaches of Pender Harbour is a place focussing on the practice of shakuhachi. Bamboo-In features a karesansui (dry rock garden), manicured garden, and shakuhachi meditation room. Just 10 minutes walk from the ocean on quiet country roads, Bamboo-In is ideal for growing and deepening shakuhachi practice and meditation.

Bamboo Gatherings

With the goal of sharing an interest in Shakuhachi in a social way, Gatherings are held at Bamboo-In, for workshops and group practice.

During the Bamboo Gatherings, students of the Shakuahchi perform for each other and share their interests in the flute. The year's practice culminates in a yearly concert which takes place around November. To spread the understanding of the Shakuahchi to the general public, as well as for practicing playing in front of an audience, students of Bamboo-In participate in the summer Japanese Festival in Vancouver, the Powell Street Festival. Every year, leading shakuhachi teachers from the International Shakuhachi Training Centre come to Vancouver to do workshops in koten honkyoku as well as give a concert.

Other activities include the annual trips to Japan to harvest shakuhachi bamboo, inviting guest masters from Japan to perform and give workshops, and the bi-annual Vancouver Shakuhachi Festivals at the University of British Columbia.

"Shakuhachi Roots" Bamboo Harvesting Trip and Pilgrimage to Japan

Alcvin places importance not only on playing shakhachi, but also on making one's own, individual hocchiku Shakuhachi. Every year in late autumn, Bamboo-In arranges trips to Japan to harvest bamboo with Atsuya Okuda and the Zensabo. Members spend two days visiting Nagano prefecture where the best bamboo is found. We participate in an outing of harvesting amongst the fresh air and beauty of Japan's mountainous countryside. During the field trip, members are trained how to select, harvest, and dry bamboo for their own hocchiku shakuhachi.

Other activities on the trip include visiting Kyoto Meianji and and other shakuhachi sacred sites.

Seattle Shakuhachi Society

The Seattle Shakuhachi Society is primarily a way for people who live in and near Seattle to find out about local shakuhachi-related events such as concerts, visiting teachers, workshops, and so on. Most of their members play the shakuhachi at least a little bit, but that's not a requirement. They also maintain a mailing list.

The Bay Area Shakuhachi School

The Bay Area Shakuhachi School offers private and group lessons in West Oakland, California. Studies focus on traditional and modern music in both solo and ensemble settings. The school is lead by Phil Gelb.

Japanese Music Institute of America

The Japanese Music Institute of America (JMI) was founded as a nonprofit educational organization in 1981 by present day director and president, Masayuki Koga. JMI has a clear goal and an enthusiastic approach based on a belief that there are many people who love music, yet do not know how to play well, or how to enjoy practice. There is a satisfactory answer for them: a method to help them experience the happiness of playing music.

The Association for International Exchange of Japanese Music

The Association for International Exchange of Japanese Music was established in 1988 to make Japanese traditional music, classical pieces to modern compositions,accessible to international music lovers all over the world. Since then, the association has had various activities such as overseas concerts and multimedia database of Japanese music on internet. It's board consists of prominent players and musicologists and they have several grants that they use to promote their activities and extened their database.

The International Shakuhachi Kenshukan (Japanese Only)

Established and run by Yokoyama Katsuya and his students.

Bruce Jones' Shakuhachi Mailing List

A great source for information and current events.

San Francisco Bay Shakuhachi Mailing List

Discussing Japanese music events and issues as they relate to the San Francisco area.

European Shakuhachi Discussion Group

The aim of this discussion forum is to highten awareness of shakuhachi players in Europe, our where-abouts, creative activities and focus. With this list we would be able to discuss more locally any aspect of the shakuhachi and being a shakuhachi player or just a lover of the sounds. We would, by being more aware of each other, be able to reommend students to qualified teachers and advertise to each other of events and performances. We would be able to collaborate for future shakuhachi events in Europe.

New York Shakuhachi Home Page

A calendar of events, and inforamation about the New York shakuhachi scene.

Information

Shakuhachi Tips by Kaoru Kakizakai

An on-going project by translator Zachary Braverman to translate all three years' worth Kakizakai's Shakuhachi Tips. Zachary's hope is that the translations may be helpful to players (especially beginners) in their efforts to master this challenging instrument.

Here's a version translated into Spanish by ISS member Horacio Curti.

Catagorized Shakuhachi links by Dan Gutwein

Dan is doing an awsome job of collecting and organizing various shakuhachi related web pages. Check it out for a wide variety of links to articles and other information.

(mae)2 Artists file

Index in English and Japanese of classical artists with many interesting photos and in depth bios.

Shakuhachi Home Page in Russia