Hi all,
Just wanted to introduce myself. I am an all-around wind player (mostly
flute and sax) who picked up the shakuhachi about 15 years ago. I have been
living in Tokyo for the past 13 years and around 6 years ago started
attending the shakuhachi-making workshop sponsored by a local store (Meijiro
in Takadanobaba). This was almost as much fun as playing, and by now I am
relatively well versed in both traditional and modern construction
techniques, and have made a couple of quite good (surprised myself) flutes
including a 1.8 and a 2.5, with others in progress. The Meijiro class is
taught by professional shakuhachi-making sensei who donate their time as a
service in disseminating information on this traditionally secretive craft.
The shop, in addition to selling all types and levels of flutes and
accessories, carries a stock of "take" (bamboo), as well as a full range of
tools, materials and measuring instruments for making flutes.
I was also quite lucky to find a number of good instruments in secondhand
stores and pawn shops, including a very old Shinzen 1.8 as well as some
wonderful Chikuzen flutes in 1.7, 1.8, 2.0--all around 50 years old. Also
took a workshop with John Neptune in long- flute construction in which he
talked about and demonstrated some of his revolutionary techniques in making
and balancing flutes.
With my son just at toddler age, I find my time to pursue these matters has
become quite limited, but I am hoping to get back to it when circumstances
allow.
If anyone needs information from Japan please e-mail me at kymarto@gol.com
and I will do my best to try to help you.
Toby Marshall
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