I have a pair of flutes in for repair this week from two shakuhachi making brothers, Gyokusan (left) and Gyokusui (right, recently deceased). They are offsprings of the renown Kono Gyoksui, one of the most respected modern shakuhachi makers of our time. The Gyokusan is a Modern style 2.4, two-piece Jiari (fully fabricated bore) flute.The Gokusui is a Natural style 1.8 nobekan (one piece), Jinashi (minimally worked, natural bore). They can not be more different in every aspect - tone, response, playability etc… One is a little shy while the other is gregarious. (I won’t say which is which).  It makes me wonder what their relationship was like

 

I’m curious because my oldest brother plays shakuhachi and has been a student of Masayuki Koga for many years. We are also night and day - one Yin, the other Yang. We have always been connected by blood, but now the shakuhachi also runs deep.

On a side note, I once played the role of Chang of the famous Siamese twins Chang and Eng for a History Channel documentary called The Day they Died. The film explored the last moments of famous people. While doing my usual research for a role, I discovered that Chang was a heavy drinker where as Eng was known to have never touched alcohol. How was that possible? Didn’t they share blood? They also married twin sisters from a well to do family, which was a big to do since Change and Eng worked in circus side-shows. I wonder what it would have been like had they picked up the shakuhachi.

I guess they would have needed custom made one-handed flutes but imagine the amazing duets.

Which reminds me, I should be free freed up in a few weeks to takes new commissions

Blow freely my shakuhachi bothers!