Hi Folks!
In response to Stavs reply to Jeff's information about Shakuhachi players in
Japan...
Stav wrote...
'And this goes really well with the rest of your e-mail - I am just really
out of touch with what is going on with this instrument in Japan. I thought
the Japanese players that made it here were all that Japan has to offer, but
it turns out that is just not true. The Japanese players who make it to NYC
are just the very few who are are interested in a connection with the
Shakuhachi players beyond their borders. It is not that Shakuhachi playing
is a dying art, it is just that culturally Japan is just plain old insular.'
I go along with you to a point in your assessment of Japanese
players/culture, but you could look at this another way...
If, say for example, you are a Native American, interested in Native
American Flute music and currently living in North America, how likely are
you to want to take a long haul flight to go to study it with a few dozen
folk in Japan who have relatively recently developed an interest in that
music?
However much you may respect the efforts and achievements of those few
Japanese players and even be grateful to them for showing such interest in
your culture, you probably wont be going out of your way to come out to
Japan to a study festival.
This is not a well considered example, I know nothing about Native American
Flute music or culture... don't mean to upset anyone who does.
I am not Japanese but I live in Japan and I feel the same way myself, I
would personally love to travel to festivals outside of Japan to meet fellow
enthusiasts and learn from them, but it's kind of an expensive option when I
have good teachers and Shakuhachi friends right here nearby (relatively).
Your average amateur player in Japan also has a career and very little
holiday available in the year (me too), it's a busy culture, work and family
obligations take up a lot of time... people just can't spare the time until
they retire.
I mean no disrespect to the all people who are doing such a great job of
organising Shakuhachi festivals around the world, and helping out by
teaching or volunteering their time to help (including here in Japan). Keep
up the good work. I am sure you understand better than I how difficult it
is to get Japanese amateur players to attend events outside of Japan.
Having said that, I do think there some Japanese players are looking outside
of Japan for inspiration for new directions and new music for the
Shakuhachi. Certainly I personally know a few local semi professional
players who say this to me and admit to feeling that the Shakuhachi music is
stagnating here. In this area there is real room for an interesting
dialogue. Jeff is absolutely right about that... I too wish I could do
something to encourage cross fertilisation between interested musicians
outside of Japan and within it.
Bill O'Connor.
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