Monthly Archives: November 2024

Shakuhachi Festival, Shakuhachi Music

World Shakuhachi Festival Texas 2025

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Here are some information about the World Shakuhachi Festival Texas 2025, on April 17~20, 2025. Here is the link to the website: https://wsf2025.com

“WSF 2025 is the eighth major international shakuhachi festival to be held since the original 1994 WSF convened in Bisei, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It will feature a diverse range of music in concerts, workshops, lectures, exhibitions, masterclasses, and informal gatherings, in a diverse range of genres such as jazz, contemporary music, cross-cultural fusion, improvisation, video games, rock, and pop, among others.”

The Early-Bird registration  is now open, until December 31, 2024.

The festival offers the possibility to apply for a scholarship to potential WSF 2025 participants from any country. Scholarship application deadline is December 15, 2024.

There will be a performer’s competition during the festival. This competition is open to all registered general participants of the World Shakuhachi Festival 2025. Deadline for submissions will be December 31st.

Have a look at the general schedule to get an idea of the program, and find all the details on the concerts and workshops pages. It is going to be amazing!

I feel honoured to be part of this unique event as an invited guest and to represent the Hijirikai school there!

Hope to see some of you there!

Meditation, Spirituality

Shoshikan meditation practice and Shakuhachi

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I’m reposting here an inspiring blogpost about the Shoshikan meditation practice from the blog “Komuso Khronicles” written by the Komuso monk Fuu. As mentioned at the beginning of the post:

Shoshikan (初心観), also known as “observation of the beginner’s mind,” is a Zen meditation practice that emphasizes maintaining a sense of curiosity, openness, and acceptance, free from preconceived notions or biases.

At every stage of your shakuhachi journey, it is essential to stay in touch with your beginner’s mind (curiosity, openness, acceptance, creativity, wonder, etc.). I sometimes see in my students the beginner’s enthusiasm fade when faced with the technical difficulties of the flute. Developing a non-judgemental attitude based on self-observation helps you navigate the ups and downs of the journey.

The article covers several important aspects of shakuhachi playing: Breath and Awareness, Tone Quality, Physical and Mental Posture, Unity of Breath-Body-Instrument, Self-Discovery and Connection to Nature, as well as a comparison between Shoshikan 照思観 and Suizen (吹禅 – Blowing zen)

Happy reading! Feel free to leave a comment and to subscribe to the Komuso Khronicles!

Beyond Blowing…