Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hi everyone
Having been playing irish flute, or at least trying to, for almost a year I recently had the opportunity to obtain a 1.7 shakuhachi, something I'd long wanted to try,  in exchange for one of my transverse flutes form a member of the Chiff & Fipple board; the flute had previously been refurbished by Perry and he gave me this information regarding it:

Yes, I remember the flute. It is probably around 70 - 100 years old, difficult to say for sure. I believe it was made for the Myoan (Miean) sect of zen Honkyoku music. These are really amazing instruments for those who understand how to access the sound. They are not loud like modern instruments but the right player can transform the listener with sounds that belong to the air of an ancient temple.

So far I've been unable to get a sound out of it but I'll keep trying and am sure I'll succeed eventually, and hopefully start on a long and wonderful voyage of discovery.

Paul