Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

I've heard some good things about Bonchiku, he apparently has made flutes for　Mitsuhachi　Kifu from time-to-time. He is part of the so-called Chikusen chain, which tends to have a similar sound though.  But the lighter colors and  your tendencies probably have to do with the price range you are looking at. If the flute ended up with a darker, more aesthetically pleasing look, the price will probably start around $3,000.    I think any makers flutes can crack, and  be bound of course, but many of those end up being sold. Hence the large amount of second hand flutes with cracks.
Another person in the Chikusen chain is Tom Deaver, however, he has studied the Kinko system in detail and he can adjust his flutes so that they produce a sound Kinko players value. He has made flutes for Yokoyama Katsuya, and he also has many very good quality reasonably priced flutes.
You might also look at Chikuyu   (http://www.chikuyu.com/)   Just click on the size you are looking for at the top of the screen. His flutes are often very light because I don't think he uses a lot of Ji.   Just my 2 cents. Take your time in looking for that special flute.
Josh

Seth wrote:

the only real measure of whether a shakuhachi will be good for you is how good you sound on it, and how much you enjoy playing it. And the only way to know that is to try the flute and blow.

I don't completely agree with that. If you haven't been playing quite a few years, it is very difficult to judge the quality of a flute. A flute that might be easy for you to play right now, and that sounds good with your current way of playing, might not sound so good after you've progressed a bit as a student. Conversely, a flute that's difficult for you to play or that doesn't sound so good with your current way of playing might sound wonderful after you've gotten used to it or afer you've progressed a bit in your ability. That's why I think it's best to listen to your teacher or a known master play the flute, and to get his or her opinion. Unless you want to be a constant shakuhachi trader, base your decision on the potential of the flute, not what you can do with it yourself right now.

I've liked a lot of Bonchiku flutes.

David Sawyer, who is on this forum, is the dealer for Bonchiku in the States. Perhaps you should contact him, tell him your budget, and have him send you the best Bonchiku he has for the price. I've played Bonchiku flutes and they are very easy to play and good for beginners.

Thank you all for your generous implication around my little dilemma. It might helps other beginners too for finding their first pro level instrument.
Yes, as Seth mentionned, welcome to the club.
I definetly agree in that a skilled player playing the flute for you is the other ingredient , beside you playing the flute yourself, to check if that flute fits your need, expectations and taste. When my teacher played my Yuu, David Brown and Chikusing, they all sound greater, and more important, as I grow with them, easyness of playing comes as well, that makes them more precious to play.
By the way, I'm not touched by all the skilled players. Some really do, other don't. So interpretation is another point.
Someone else stated in another post that you cannot forsee in wich direction you will proceed, and where will you be at in one year and what your taste will be. That is nice, but to consider keeping long interest into an instrument is not for sure.
I just feel to mention that I asked here few month ago what about playing in concert situation after just a few months of experience. The beginners where encouraging me and the long run players said rather, you need to play at least two years before - which is not wrong technically, beside everyone progress quite differently. I allready did play twice, simple events for elderly people, during a pianist recital. People were touched and came to me to express it. Of course, not all the notes went perfect, but somehow something went through. And from that experience, I know on what I need to work to play in front of a more demanding audience.
To agree with Tairaku and edosan, I received great help, outside this forum, from Perry Yung and from David Sawyer, but if I came with that post here, is that I cannot listen them play live and get hand on their instruments, and difficult to get audition outside of US, but was precious to get some evaluation from them of some instruments, as well from my teacher who listen mp3 sent by them. I thank them a lot for that.
To live in the States or Japan is a better situation concerning this issue. Other parts of the world is like a big desert concerning seing and trying out real shakuhachi.
With the instruments I bought without playing them first, in fact coming from members of this forum -3 of them so far and rather modest ones financially, I was delighted with their new array of possibilities, but when paying 6 time their price for a more pro model, it is more chalenging.
Shakuhachi for me is discovery of new territories, making resonating and giving voice to something inside. The flute is merely a natural amplifier, giving it's color.
Cheers