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March 21, 2007
Ikigaeshi Breath Retrun
Hi All, I get questions all the time about the ikigaeshi. Mainly, "What is it?" Ikigaeshi translates as breath return in Japanese. It's usually the natural nodal membrane left intact at the rear of the top blowing end of the shakuhachi. This is mainly to aid in sealing the top from embouchure air leaks because of a large bore circumference.
Here is how I craft my ikigaeshi. Todays model is a 3.0.
Here is the opening. I try to get it as close to the front edge as possible.
Next I file carefully so as not to remove too much.
When I have the interior right, I mark the edge for the utaguchi cut.
Once the cut is made and the interior and exterior angles are to my liking, I start to get to know RO.
After blowing Ro for about 5 minutes, I start to remove some of the ikigaeshi. I always take it slow and take mental notes as it's easy to work fast and lose track of what's happening. Every little niot affects how the flute responds.
This one was inserted and came out over the course of a year.
Come back tomorrow and see me do an insert.
Namaste, PErry
Posted by Perry Yung at March 21, 2007 12:22 AM