Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hi,
  The family and I have decided to move back to the states this winter. I've been here in Japan for about 12 years and the timing just seems right for us. It is not an easy decision but the ultimate reason has been my father has been diagnosed with sporadic inclusion-body myocitis, sIBM, a less-severe form of muscular dystrophy. It hasn't started yet at all so he's fine, but once it starts apparently the muscles go pretty quick.
My brother is getting a degree in horticulture right now so the plan is to open a garden center on Grand Island (Buffalo-Niagara area) that features Japanese gardens and art as well. It seems like a tough time for small businesses right now but I hope we can make it. We'll be importing pottery as well, so there is another excuse to travel and visit Japan periodically. You can read about the details on the Grand Island Serene Gardens website, but it still is a work in progress. I'll be continuing some of the essays I've written on the "Shakuhachi" page, so check it out from time to time.

I also plan to continue teaching and performing there, so later when things are more settled I'll post something in the Dojo section. I have about 10 students here in Nara and will continue teaching some via skype, but it is hard to leave them. I already have some fairly big concerts lined up in Japan for next spring, so hopefully I'll be able to keep my connections with Japan and go back and forth.

I've been busy getting my solo CD "Mahoroba" out there and am currently recording Kurofune's second CD comprised of shakuhachi duets and shakuhachi and synthesizer pieces with Izukawa Hidefumi. We've been on a natinal tour recently and went to Nagoya, Gifu up north to Akita, Yamagata, Fukui etc. This weekend we will go to Tokyo for a national NHK - BS show airing in October. We'll part of a talk show about Nara and shakuhachi as well as perform at the end. That should be fun. Anyway, just wanted to let the shakuhachi community know what I've been up. I look forward to participating in more North American events, and anywhere else really.