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Kimura Yōzan

木村遙山

Kimura Yōzan
3/5/1890 - 10/6/1926

Shakuhachi

Born March 5, 1890 in Niwase-chō, Kibi-gun, Okayama Prefecture, to a family of stone-cutters.
At 18, he became the owner of a bookshop in the same area.
He began his shakuhachi lessons with the Sōetsu style (Kinko-Ryū) of shakuhachi but, at 20, became the student of the late Wakejima Yōzan, a Tozan-Ryū master.
His Tozan studies started in January 1911. In March, the Chuden repertoire of the style was taught. In July 1913, he received the Okuden. In November, he received training in the United States.
In May of 1917, he was promoted to associate instructor (Jun-shihan).
He was promoted to Shihan in February, 1922 and received the name Yōzan.
In the summer of 1924, he was invited to Hawaii to teach, but due to an unfortunate illness, he returned home and passed away in his hometown on October 6th of the following year.
On the same day, He was posthumously given the rank of Grand Master as recognition of his service during his lifetime.

Also Known As 木村英治郎 (Kimura Eijirō)
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