Hiratsuka Kōzan I
初世 平塚 珖山
Shakuhachi
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Hiratsuka Kōzan, (birth name Yoshimi), who had a strong influence as a shakuhachi teacher throughout much of the Tokaido, Iseji, and Shinsu areas centering on Nagoya, was highly regarded as a devoted promoter of the Tozan-ryū. He was born into a farming family in the village of Kobayashi on the outskirts of Takarazuka, Setshu, and became a local celebrity by playing a handmade shakuhachi under the tutelage of his uncle Na, himself an enthusiastic amateur. At his fathers urging, he left farming and his family and moved to Kyoto and Osaka to become an educator. He graduated from the Osaka Teacher Training School in 1901. But he pushed himself too hard in his studies and, because of his somewhat weak constitution, fell ill and was forced to return to his hometown to recuperate. At that point he had started studying shakuhachi with Kimura Takamichi but, in February of 1912, he moved to Kimura’s teacher, Tajima Shōzan. In September of 1915 he completed his Shoden studies and by December he had completed the Chuden rank and moved on to the Okuden repertoire. An opportunity arose for him to establish his family in the chemical and dye industry in Tokyo, so he continued his Okuden work under Tozan-ryū master Yasui Kazan. He received his Okuden license in September 1917. In 1919 he took a position as a school teacher in Hyogo Prefecture, prompting him to appeal to Nakao Tozan to accept him as a live-in student. In September of the same year he was awarded his Jun-Shihan (associate instructor) license, as well as the name Seizan, and began organizing teaching centers radiating out from Nagoya. His devotion to promoting the Tozan-ryū extended to recruitment of members, concerts, and broadcasting, and his efforts were rewarded with positions on the Tozan-ryū Council and Board of Examinations. His continued success resulted in him receiving his Shihan in February of 1924 and Dai-Shihan promotion in 1929. He trained many dozens of students, leaving a legacy of excellence.
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| Also Known As 平塚 與志美 (Hiratsuka Yoshimi) |
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Teachers Students
Kuriyama Yōzan 1899 - ???? |