Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hi Sean, Welcome to the forum!
I also did not understand enough Japanese to get the specific stylistic elements when I was studying in Japan, but it doesn't matter too much. After you begin to hear the music, it'll speak for itself!

I heard that Gifu has a museum dedicated to Bamboo. Is that true?


Say hello to Noriko!

Gambatte, Perry

Last edited by Yungflutes (2009-02-02 11:03:21)

Hi Sean,
  Welcome to the forum and welcome to Japan as well. Nice blog.  I live down in Nara if you ever get the chance to stop buy please do. We don't have as much snow as you guys, mostly only on the mountain tops. While you're in Japan try to get in as much Japanese as you can, everyone around you will be pleased just knowing your trying to make an effort. A lot of good relationships will develop. Good luck with the shakuhachi and don't hesitate to ask questions around here.

Perry- I don't know about Gifu but there is a big bamboo museum/park in Kyoto. It's a nice place to visit sometime, but it's a little out of the way.

Mike-  Yup, no heat down here in Nara either. Central heating is still really scarce in Japan. I've heard some very well to do people have it, but I've never been in a house that had it. Maybe more places in Tokyo though.  Stretching and warmnig up the fingers, hands, well whole body actually, before practice is a real necessity.

Happy blowing to everone in the cold!  Sorry Brian, you can't participate in this cold thread, you escaped to the land down under

Welcome to the forum Sean,

Nice blog and photos.  Shikoku is also fairly warm though recently we've had colder weather than Tokyo.  The last few winters haven't been very cold here; we did have one dusting of snow a couple of weeks ago.  If you make it down to Shikoku give a holler; I'd be happy to get together for a practice.  Luckily I had a Japanese friend who translated for me when I first started shakuhachi as I spoke virtually no Japanese and the teacher didn't know any English; recently at a traditional Japanese music concert my sensei told the audience that I learned shakuhachi before I learned the Japanese language (what little I know of it...)

I hardly ever think think of Kyoko while living here but pics do take me back. There is also the Botanical Garden in Kyoto where many varieties of bamboo grow. If you get a chance go to Daitokuji off Kitaoji street up north. There are many small temples on the grounds. If you walk straight in from the south entrance, go up about 150 yards on veer left. There's a temple that is surrounded by bamboo. You can sit on the veranda that runs around it and play shakuhachi ALL DAY. The sunlight coming through the bamboo canopy cast an eery glow over things and the sounds echo off the wooded veranda floor and the bamboo. It doesn't get much better. Except at the next place like this you find. There are so many there.