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Azuma Jishi (Taizan Ha)

吾妻獅子

[Genre]Honkyoku
[Style]Hate
[School]Taizan Ha - 対山派
[Also Known As]Hirukara

History (Yokoyama Katsuya):

Azuma means East or Eastern Japan. This piece represents nostalgia for the home land by featuring the scenery and folklore of Azuma.

Like Kumoi Jishi it belongs to the category of Hate music.

The Komuso priest played Hate music in the afternoon, when he was free from the strict discipline of religion. Hence the alternative title of the piece Hirukara - Afternoon -.

Azuma Jishi (Taizan Ha) appears on the following albums

Album Artist
Play ButtonJapon L'art du shakuhachi Shakuhachi : Iwamoto Yoshikazu
Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
Azuma-jishi (Lion Dance From The Azuma Region)

This is one of the various "Lion Dance" pieces which are executed on the occasion of the Shinto religious festivals in the Azuma region, to the South of the present-day Tokyo. It belongs to the secular repertoire, called gekyoku, as opposed to the main repertoire, honkyoku. It is played as a duet of shakuhachi, with an emphasis on its heterophonic aspect.
Play ButtonMeianji Shoden Shakuhachi Honkyoku Shu 01 Shakuhachi : Yoshimura Sōshin Fuan
Play ButtonMyoan Sanjunana Sei Tanikita Muchiku Shu - 2 Shakuhachi : Tanikita Muchiku Roan
Play ButtonMysterious Sound of Bamboo Flute - 1 Shakuhachi : Watazumi Doso Roshi

The pieces of the Watazumi school are intended for the concrete manifestation of philosophy, but there are also pieces whose purpose is merely to be enjoyed.. These pieces are inevitably more musical, but from the perspective of the serious player they are extremely easy. They require no difficult breathing or techniques, and so they are used for relaxation.

Azuma Jishi is the most colorful of the Jishi pieces, and is reminiscent of hayashi, or festival music.

A 1.7 shaku hocchiku that is said to have been the favored instrument of a famous player of old was used for this piece.
Play ButtonShakuhachi - Ryudo - 02 Shakuhachi : Takahashi Ryudo

Shakuhachi Honkyoku - Koten Shakuhachi III Shakuhachi : Kakizakai Kaoru
Play ButtonShika no Tone Shakuhachi Koten Meikyoku Shusei - 2 Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
Azuma means East or Eastern Japan. This piece represents nostalgia for the home land by featuring the scenery and folklore of Azuma.

Like Kumoi Jishi it belongs to the category of Hate music.

The Komuso priest played Hate music in the afternoon, when he was free from the strict discipline of religion. Hence the alternative title of the piece Hirukara - Afternoon -.
Play ButtonTake Ippon II Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
One of the Gaikyoku (outside pieces) included in the Honkyoku repertoire along with another similar sample Kumoi jishi. Piece for consolation.

The Road of Hasekura Tsunenaga Shakuhachi : Rodrigo Rodriguez

The Voice of Bamboo Shakuhachi : Steven Casano
Shakuhachi : Steven Taizen Casano
Play ButtonZen - Katsuya Yokoyama - 02 Shakuhachi : Yokoyama Katsuya
Azuma means East or Eastern Japan. This piece represents nostalgia for the home land by featuring the scenery and folklore of Azuma.

Like Kumoi Jishi it belongs to the category of Hate music.

The Komuso priest played Hate music in the afternoon, when he was free from the strict discipline of religion. Hence the alternative title of the piece Hirukara - Afternoon -.