Koike Reizan I
小池玲山
7/16/1893 - 3/29/1948
Shakuhachi
|
Koike Reizan, one of the most respected shakuhachi players of his generation, was born in Higashi-ku, Osaka City, on July 16, 1893. His family had been in the construction business for generations, and they raised him to love music of all kinds. At seventeen he began shakuhachi lessons with Ōta Yukiba, a Sōetsu-ryū master. Early on, he questioned the utility of the school’s shakuhachi notation system, leading to a falling-out with his teacher. In the winter of 1911 he petitioned Nakao Tozan to allow him to become his student, and his request was accepted. Because of his talent, his was almost immediately awarded his Shōden license. After that, he began devoting more and more time to the shakuhachi, committing himself to more practice time so that he could progress as fast as possible. In May of 1913 he received permission from the Sōke to open his own Tozan-ryū workshop in Mikage-cho, Hanshin and he quit his day job at an architectural firm in Kobe to do so. In February of 1916 he passed the associate instructor’s exam, receiving his Jun-Shihan license. During this period he began performing frequently, even accompanying the Sōke in joint performances as far away as China. He gradually made a name for himself within the Tozan-ryū, subsequently being elected to the Tozan Board of Trustees and appointed as a member of the examination committee ten times. In December of 1922 he was promoted to Shihan and became one of Nakao Tozan’s inner circle of advisors. He was again promoted in 1923 as Dai-Shihan Chikurin-ken, the highest official rank in the Tozan-ryū. During his career he received numerous awards and honors, and was recognized by many other public and private organizations.
|
|
Teachers Students
Narita Rokuzan 1917 - ???? |
Tracks Recorded
| Pieces | Kanji | Length | Album | Instrument | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aioi no Kyoku | 相生の曲 | 06'11 | Sokyoku Jiuta Taikei 44 | Shakuhachi |