31 A Conversation with a Shakuhachi Master (Christopher Yohmai Blasdel)

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the world of the bamboo flute known as the shakuhachi..

About Christopher Yohemei Blasdel

Christopher Yohmei Blasdel is a master of the shakuhachi, an educator, and an award-winning author. He began instruction in the instrument in Japan in 1972 and has spent almost 50 years performing, producing music, teaching, and promoting the instrument around the world. Blasdel is the author of the instructional book The Shakuhachi: A Manual for Learning and The Single Tone: A Personal Journey into Shakuhachi Music. The latter of these is an autobiographical account of Blasdel's experiences with the shakuhachi. The Single Tone was originally published in Japanese under the title Shakuhachi Odessei, Ten no iro ni Miserarete and awarded the prestigious Rennyo Award for non-fiction in 2000.  Blasdel also possesses a fourth degree black belt in Aikido.

Topics Discussed

• What a shakuhachi is and how it differs from other flutes
• Why the shakuhachi is so difficult to play
• The history of the shakuhachi
• The connection of the shakuhachi to Zen Buddhism
• The shakuhachi's use as a tool for suizen (blowing meditation)
• The rise and fall of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism
• Why komusō monks wore hats that covered their faces (tengai)
• The shakuhachi's emergence as a world instrument
• Why Blasdel decided to go to Japan
• How the shakuhachi is taught traditionally
• The tablature method used to transcribe shakuhachi music
• The World Shkauhachi Festival
• Blasdel's relationship with the artist Isamu Noguchi
• The different types of sounds that one can produce with the shakuhachi
• And much more!

Note: At one point in this episode I say "Japanese internment camps." This is misleading since the camps in question were not established by the Japanese. The term was used in reference to the internment camps the U.S. government established during World War II to detain individuals of Japanese ancestry. The usage of the term "Japanese internment camp" was not intentional and only noticed after the final edit of the episode was made.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Images: Courtesy of Wasabi magazine

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