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"Shakuhachi Roots"
Bamboo Harvesting Trip and Pilgrimage to Japan
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Testimonials:
"I truly thank you for this great opportunity and
fantastic encounters. Lo and behold, I found so many things about Japan and the people here which I did not notice before. With Canadian
perspectives, things looked fresh and people appeared differently (in the most positive way). I personally leaned so many things from spirited bamboo lovers. The trip was sometimes intensive and demanding (only physically) but the reward was tremendous. I truly believe that the trip deserves being called pilgrimage as we went through some deep spiritual moments. I was certain that my wonderful experiences had largely been prepared by you and based on your efforts in the previous years. The people in BC are very fortunate to have a teacher like you (and I would say you are lucky, too, to have such wonderful folks in BC!)"
---Koji Matsunobu (Roots #4)
Saga, Japan
"Once again Al did a great job in organizing the trip and helping everything run smoothly. We had lots of shakuhachi music training and exposure, and got to experience some of the hidden wonders of Japan. My playing has improved since the trip, and I am looking forward to making flutes from the bamboo that I harvested myself. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip."
---Peter Smith (2nd time on)
Vancouver, BC, Canada
"The Shakuhachi Roots Pilgrimage is a journey never to be forgotten. It is a journey through Japan that cannot be seen by common tourists, because shakuhachi opened a lot of doors for us in many holy places. A unique opportunity to experience all styles of the shakuhachi world and meet many Master players that will expand your awareness about your-Self and the possibilities of shakuhachi as a deep spiritual practice. I am changed for life !!!!"
---Matheus Fereirra
Sao Paulo, Brazil
"Intense and wonderful, a great opportunity to see Japan in a way most people never do. To be warmly welcomed into the homes of some of the finest shakuhachi makers and players was a rare treat. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in expanding their experience of the shakuhachi, as well as to people interested in the spiritual side of Japanese culture."
---Oliver Henry,
Boulder, CO, USA
"It was an absolutely fantastic journey, passionately planned and lead by Alcvin."
---Darren Stone,
Vancouver, BC, Canada
"On this exciting and educational journey I experienced life in modern day Japan and shared in some of their ancient traditions."
---Jean Mihell
Victoria, BC, Canada
"My shakuhachi lessons were supurb!! Shrines were fantastic! Temple was phenomenal! Shopping was great!....Everything was so out of this world beautiful. I can’t wait to get back home, to Japan."
---Ronan Nanning
Vancouver, BC, Canada
"The trip was great because it was both "off the beaten track" and 'behind closed doors'. In fact it attracted my wife and my mother to join me--both not shakuhachi students."
---Peter Smith
Vancouver, BC, Canada
"Wonderful Adventure!"
---Paris Smith
Vancouver, BC, Canada
"Awesome trip, Al. SUGOI!"
---John Paul Sicotte (2nd time on)
Edmonton, AB, Canada
"We may have jokingly called Bamboo Roots 3 "x-treme shakuhachi", but it did give us a lingering high. As the veteran of the three tours, I can attest to the fact that this is a true pilgrimage in the spiritual sense. Experiences with beliefs and practices of Shinto as well as Zen, Jodo Shu, and Shingon Buddhism complemented our flute activities. Bamboo digging in the forest and playing in the company of welcoming Japanese friends is inspirational."
--- Jane Kilthau (3rd time on)
Little Neck, New York, USA
Estimated cost for one person in CA$ will be close to $4500.00 So budgeting for about $5000 for the trip is a safe bet.
Alcvin places importance not only on playing shakhachi, but also on experiencing the beauties of Japanese culture first hand with Japan itself; and most importantly making one's own, individual hocchiku Shakuhachi. Every year in late autumn, Alcvin arranges trips to Japan pilgrimaging to sacred sites, studying with master teachers, and harvesting bamboo. Participants spend two or more days harvesting amongst the fresh air and beauty of Japan's mountainous countryside. During the field trip, members are trained how to select, harvest, and dry bamboo for their own hocchiku shakuhachi. Other activities on the trip include visiting Kyoto Meianji, and other sacred places of Japan. You can read about our first "Roots Pilgrimage" in 2004 here and our second one in Nov. 2005 here. Our most recent trip can be read here. The 2005 photo journal can be viewed here. The 2006 photo journal will be up soon.
This year (2008) we will be harvesting in Kumamoto, Saga, Hiroshima, and Nagano, and exploring more of Koya-san and the great komuso temple, Koukokuji in Wakayama Prefecture. We will also be participating in the annual honkyoku taikai at Meian-ji in Tokyo. Of course we will be studying with Yoshinobu Taniguchi, Yoshio Kurahashi, Toshimitsu Ishikawa, Atsuya Okuda, and Kaoru Kakizakai.
November is one of the best times to go to Japan as he plane fares are quite low and the weather is excellent, not to mention the spectacular color displays of autumn leaves' colours. And of course the bamboo is ready for harvesting!
Other side activities will or may include:
--visiting ancient reliquaries in Nara, the ancient capital of Japan
--visiting the oldest Shinto Shrines in Japan (Ise and Tsubaki) and partaking in misogi (water purification)
--visiting a Japanese sword maker
Please keep in mind that this schedule is relatively flexible. If you want to alter it in any way to your needs please feel free. Otherwise it is encouraged that everyone stick together for group solidarity and support, especially for those first-time visitors to Japan. The maximum number of participants for this trip is 8 so please reserve your space soon!
Please confirm if you will be joining the trip and if you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
Purpose:
The aim of this trip is to give all shakuhachi students and friends the opportunity to connect back to the roots of the shakuhachi flute. Learning shakuhachi is not just a mechanical learning of notes on a page, but a whole cultural experience which entails physically and spiritually feeling the country of the shakuhachi's origin, Japan. Non-shakuhachi players are also welcome to join as it will be a very unique journey into traditional Japan.
This trip is physically demanding and culturally challenging so it is imperative that you be in good physical and mental shape and recommended that you purchase travel insurace before the excursion.
SAMPLE ITINERARY:
Wed. Nov. 1
Arrive in Japan (Fukuoka Airport)
Thurs. Nov. 2
Fukuoka (rest)
Fri. Nov. 3
Meet Nishimura Koryu
Sat. Nov. 4
Meet Jeff Cairns and Wakanakai; takehori
Sun. Nov. 5
Gasso and enkai with Wakanakai
Mon. Nov. 6
Mie (Tsubaki Jinja offering and purification)
Tues. Nov. 7
Mie (Yokkaichi with Taro Miura archery (kyuudo) workshop
Wed. Nov. 8
Go to Kyoto
Thurs, Nov. 9
Go to Koyasan (overnight stay)
Fri., Nov. 10
Visit Shosoin in Nara/back to Kyoto
Sat., Nov. 11
Kyoto Free day!
Sun, Nov. 12
Nara with Yamaguchi Shugetsu rehearsal
Mon., Nov. 13
Kyoto
Tues. Nov. 14
Kyoto (lessons with Kurahashi Yoshio)
Wed. Nov. 15
Kyoto (workshop with Taniguchi Yoshinobu/ overnight stay at his Ryokan)
Thur., Nov. 16
Kyoto (meditation @ Hosenji)
Fri., Nov. 17
Kyoto (meditation @ Hosenji)
Sat, Nov. 18
Eihei ji one day retreat in Fukui-ken
Sun, Nov. 19
Return to Kyoto
Mon, Nov. 20
Workshop with Ishikawa Toshimitsu
Tues. Nov. 21
Shopping at Toji Market, Kyoto
Wed. Nov. 22
Go to Kokushou Temple in Aichi, Nagoya
Thurs. Nov. 23
Go to Toyama (Kokutai-ji)
Fri. Nov. 24
Mastumoto. Check in @ Ryokan Seifu-so
Sat. Nov. 25
Bamboo Harvest in Nagano with Okuda (Sakakita)
Sun. Nov. 26
Bamboo Oil Extraction/ (Official end of Pilgrimage)
Mon. Nov. 27
Tokyo (Lessons with Okuda)
Tues. Nov. 28
Meet Reigakusha
Wed. Nov. 29
Lesson with Kakizakai in Chichibu
Thurs. Nov. 30
Tokyo
Fri. Dec. 01
Tokyo
Sat. Dec. 02
Tokyo
Sun. Dec. 03
Chichibu Night Festival
Mon. Dec. 04
Return home
BAMBOO CULMS
EACH CONNECTED TO THE OTHERS
THE SAME ONCE A FLUTE
 Bamboo Harvesting, Nagano, Japan
by Jane Kilthau
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