Visiting the Shimura Shakuhachi Museum

Members of the Koten-shakuhachi-kenkyū-kai, or Society for the Study of Classical Shakuhachi visited the Shimura Shakuhachi Museum in Osaka.

A 2.0 Kogetsu from the personal collection of Higuchi Taizan. 
Gyokusui III looks on in the background.  
Komuso Mutake prepares to play an unusual chokan of Genpu Iwazimu, a komuso from the Taisha period.

Playing a shakuhachi made by Watazumi, 
a master particularly revered in the West.

A 6.0 shakuhachi of Genpu Iwazimu.  So much caught the attention 
of those present that several makers afterward crafted their own 6.0s!

Partially in view on the table, an old Myoan shakuhachi by maker
Kondō Sōetsu and its 3D printer reproduction in yellow, which was 
very light and nearly as resonant.

Gyokusui III Towari Jinashi

The table of shakuhachi at the maker Gyokusui III Osaka  

These five shakuhachi on the left are wide bore jinashi towari 1.8s in the key of C#.  An ideogram and kanji hanko by the thumbhole, and a second ideogram stamped toward the lower node of the shakuhachi are the identifiers of this Myoan style instrument.  Also in the photo are boxes of recorder-like adapters for people who have never played shakuhachi, to appreciate the sound back home in the states before they start their practice of developing a proper embouchure.  One's embouchure adds much tonal character.

Nara Komuso Mutake demonstrates an exceptional tonal character on an extreme large bore 1.8 jinashi shakuhachi.