Japan update

Spaced Out in Kumamoto

'Experience of space is a criterion of spiritual activity and of a higher form of awareness.'

--Lama Anagarika Govina

August 2000

As I fly up into the canopy of clouds deep in the center of this land, a feeling of deep awe overcomes me; blood rushes swiftly to my head, hitting endorphin points in the web of my brain centers. It's so visible and clear...this great body of magnificence. Kanto plain opens out before me in its beautiful grandeur. Deep green hills and mountain formations and seismic waves of valley shadows flow up to merge with the perfect symetry of Fuji-san, majestic, crowned with a ring of mist. The land is so intense up here. Things look much more beautiful and whole from afar. The clouds weave around me like the breath of a great dragon moving the heavens through my being. Its ancient reflection enters my eyes and stirs the deep wells of my soul. It's so beautiful. Sun and moon suspended in the sky strike in and out in spirals of silken desires.

I arrive in Kumamoto airport just 90 minutes later and make my way to the hotel in the center of the city. It's nearly winter and it still feels like summer here! I actually prefer the more northern climates. But I love travelling to new places to play shakuhachi. This is the way life should be! I spend Saturday getting acquainted with the beautiful city and the Prefectural Performance Hall where the competition will take place. I practice for a while in one of the rehearsal rooms then go exploring around Kumamoto Castle.

Sunday, the next day, the all-Japan hogaku (traditional Japanese music) competition is now in progress and Okuda-san and I make our way to the stage. Harago-san was first up for the shakuhachi players and he played "Hyun" by Yamamoto Hozan. He is a brother player, since he studies under Furuya-sensei too. After him was Uraguchi-san who just finished playing Oshu Sanya. His teacher is the shakuhachi maker, Kobayashi Ichijou. (I love his flutes!) Now Okuda Tohru, who studies under Yonezawa Hiroshi, is up playing Chikurai Gosho by Minoru Miki. He sounds great. My turn. Tsuru no Sugomori again. I walk up on stage, bow and close my eyes, and......think of the True Crane. Fingers a little tense. Relax. Somehow I get through the piece without too many mistakes, but I was too self conscious. Too many mental knots. Not enough space. Humbling experience. Still a beginner. Orimoto Keita is up after me and will play Kogarashi. I wish I was just in the audience so I could hear all the shakuhachi players each play their piece. I wanted to concentrate on the other players as well, but I was very introspective that day, so couldn't focus outward very well.

The results of the competition were held a few hours later and I was surprised that each division wasn't judged separately as advertised in the brochure. Actually, I wasn't quite sure how they judged it! Anyway, the top prize winner was a shamisen player named Kikuo Yuji who played 'Tanuki'. I missed his performance, but he must've been amazing because the guy after him, Takasaki Yuji, who played a Tsugaru Shamisen piece was great. A few other shamisen players were next in line and honorable mentions went to a koto player, Sasaki Hazuki, and shakuhahi player (Okuda Tohru). Okuda-san really played wonderfully, despite a cold he had. He's quite an interesting person; not only is he a fine shakuhachi player, but he has a Phd in genetic science and specializes in the production of wine, and drinking it is part of his job! That's the life! After the competition I hung out with Okuda-san and Harago-san. I suggested we three practice the piece, "Kanae", by M. Matsumoto, a beautiful trio played by Yokoyama Katsuya, Yamamoto Hozan, and Aoki Reibo (San Bon Kai) in the past. I want to perform it with them before I leave back to Canada next year. Now I'm preparing for my performance with Kakushin Nishihara (biwa) this November 4.

The flame colored persimmons ripening on my fridge remind me that a year has past since I returned to this country and the transformations have been profound. Meeting fascinating people, learning so many interesting things, observing my shakuhachi playing improve, solidifying relationships with people, and making decisions that will affect the rest of my life.

Lying on my futon, the autumn shin-getsu moon shining through my window and fu-rin wind chimes tinkling outside. I think how sound creates. A thought or a feeling creates a wave of energy around you to resonate at the same vibratory level. We might not think so, but thoughts are actually sound vibrating and broadcasting on a range beyond human hearing. Form cannot exist without sound and sound cannot exist without space. 'The fundamental element of this cosmos is space. Space is the all-embracing principle of higher unity. Its nature is emptiness; and because it is empty, it can contain and embrace everything. In contrast to Space is the principle of substance, of differentiation, of "thingness". But nothing can exist without space. Space is the pre-condition of all that exists, be it in material of immaterial form, because we can neither imagine an object nor a being without space. Space is not only a conditio sine qua non of all existence, but a fundamental property of consciousness.' *The whole universe was created, they say, with a single sound. Must practice.

Al

*Taken from the book, Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism by Lama Anagarika Govinda

P.s. If you haven't already heard, there will be a new CD reprint of Watazaumi-do's previous recordings being released at the end of November/beginning of December. It is being produced by Kanda Kayu, the well know Komuso scholar in Japan in conjunction with Meijiro Shakuhachi Shop in Tokyo. Only 1000 CDs will be made so reserve some while there is still time. It is a good opportunity to access the legendary sound of Watazumi-do. To order go to Meijiro's web page (English and Japanese) .