Re: Are there reasonably good, mass-produced instruments

From: Bruce Jones (bjones@weber.ucsd.edu)
Date: Thu Feb 03 2000 - 10:51:10 PST


>From: J.Wolfe@unsw.edu.au (Joe Wolfe)
>Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 22:05:53 +1100
>
>Is there such a thing as a mass-produced, playable shakuhachi? If
>so, is there one that is of reasonably good quality and widely
>available? One that you could buy in Tokyo or Sydney and expect to
>get the same instrument?

Last Fall, I decided I needed an inexpensive, mass-produced shakuhachi
for my office. Something to keep around to blow into while I'm
waiting for something to load or compile.

I wrote to the folks at Mejiro, who said:

        The most recommended is the one called "Kyoryu" ... "Kyoryu"
        is made from maple tree and the best thing about this one
        is that each shakuhachi is carefully examined by a professional
        player, Mr. Tadashi Tajima.

These instruments cost ~Y18,000 (which is pretty inexpensive, even
at today's exchange rates). The one I got is quite plain, but
nicely in tune and, once it warms up, sounds pretty good (leaving
it on top of the CPU keeps it warmed up too :-).

I know you're able to get these in Tokyo, maybe even in Sydney? If
not, you can get to Mejiro on the web.

bj

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