1998 World Shakuhachi Festival
Photographs of the five Sensei

Here are some photos of the five Sensei that were the special invited guests of the festival (A sixth Sensei was invited, Junsuke Kawase III, the head of the Chikuyu-sha Shakuhachi Guild, but he could not make it due to health conditions). These men are the heads of five of the major shakuhachi guilds and one (Goro Yamaguchi) is a Living National Treasure of Japan (the highest honor that can be given to a Japanese artist or craftsperson).

Here is Sensei Yokoyama graciously posing with me for a photo

 

Master Hozan Yamamoto, head of the Hozan-kai Shakuhachi Guild

 

Master Kodo Araki V, head of the Kodo-kai Shakuhachi Guild.

Master Reibo Aoki II, head of the Reibo-kai Shakuhachi Guild

 

Master Katsuya Yokoyama, head of the Chikushin-kai Shakuhachi Guild

 

Ralph Samuelson with Master Goro Yamaguchi, head of the Chikumei-sha Shakuhachi Guild and a Living National Treasure of Japan