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#1 2007-02-04 09:31:41

zenmagick
Member
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Registered: 2006-11-25
Posts: 8
Website

History of the Shakuhachi Yuu

Does anyone know the history and developement of the Shakuhachi Yuu?

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#2 2007-02-04 22:12:32

PSTL
Member
From: Jacksonville, FL USA
Registered: 2006-08-02
Posts: 67

Re: History of the Shakuhachi Yuu

Wayne,

If you haven't already, check out this site and make contact for info.
http://www.shakuhachiyuu.com/index.html

Phil

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#3 2007-02-05 07:33:41

zenmagick
Member
From: Phoenix, Arizona
Registered: 2006-11-25
Posts: 8
Website

Re: History of the Shakuhachi Yuu

Phil,

Thank you for the suggestion.  I bought my Shakuhachi Yuu from Neil Cohen at www.shakuhachiyuu.com and I am very pleased with the instrument and the service that I received.  However, I have contacted Neil about the history of the Shakuhachi Yuu and he directed me to the website for information.  Unless I have missed something, the only historical information is:

Designed by a world famous Japanese musician in 1976, the 1.8 size Shakuhachi Yuu is a quality, well tuned instrument, available at an affordable price for anyone who wants to play shakuhachi.

I have found out a little more on my own, but would like additional information on the history of the Shakuhachi Yuu.

Wayne

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#4 2008-01-16 21:18:24

Gene
Member
Registered: 2008-01-08
Posts: 19

Re: History of the Shakuhachi Yuu

Hi Wayne -

I can add at least a little about the Yuu Shakuhachi....

When I first became interested in playing the Shakuhachi, seven years ago or so, there was an advertisement on a web site on the net, in Japanese, for a new ABS plastic shakuhachi called the Yuu Shakuhachi.  And the web site was owned by Nagase Kenji, the man who had designed the Yuu Shakuhachi, and who owned all the rights to it.  And apparently, though I was never certain, I believe  he owned the plastic manufacturing company in Tokyo where they were made.  Something-or-other “Conductor” Company, I don’t recall the entire name.  But it was some sort of plastic electronics manufacturer.

So  I contacted Kenji San and bought one.

I was only a brand new Shakuhachi player, but I really liked the flute, and it was only $35 at the time, I believe it was.  And I had a little mickey-mouse Shakuhachi web site back then, and told some folks about the Yuu, and they were interested in buying one also, but were concerned with the problems of shipping from Japan, and import duties, etc.

So I asked Kenji San if he knew about import duties and such, and I told him I’d be happy to help get them to prospective buyers here in America if he could overcome those problems.  So he sent six new  Yuu Shakuhachi to me, and told me what price to sell them for, and there was no import duty.

So I sold the six to interested Shakuhachi players, and simply sent all the money back to Kenji San, in care of the “Conductor” corporation in Tokyo, where they were actually manufactured.  I did not take nor want any compensation for my help, I was just delighted to get these great instruments to people like me.  And he would send six more to me, etc.

No one else was selling them in America at that time.

And this went on for a year or so, and I helped him sell many of them, always without remuneration to myself.
But  then one day, just in appreciation for my help, he sent me a matched set of three magnificent black lacquer buttonwood shakuhachi which he had designed and had made for himself.  And he started also offering these fabulous Shakuhachi for sale on his web site.   We had become great friends by then.

But then I had a series of health problems, which involved 12 hospitalizations and 17 medical specialists, and I had to allow my web site to elapse, and I was forced to discontinue playing the Shakuhachi.  And six months ago, the snake oil salesmen have advised my wife and me that I only had a year left to live – not that I believe them worth a hoot.  But, at 77 now,  I’ve gotten back into the Shakuhachi, really starting off all over again as a brand new beginner.

The quality of the Yuu today is far beyond discussion.  Many of the greatest Shakuhachi teachers and performers from all over the world have enthusiastically endorsed it, and several major Shakuhachi performances  have been played using the humble little Yuu alone.

While I was hospitalized for so long, I lost contact with Kenji San and the “Conductor Corporation”, but I still play one of my two Hane Yuu Shakuhachi very happily every day.

Best wishes,

Dr. Gene Neill
Mayo, Florida

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#5 2008-01-17 03:41:57

Alex
Member
From: Barcelona - Spain
Registered: 2005-10-17
Posts: 138

Re: History of the Shakuhachi Yuu

Gene wrote:

But then I had a series of health problems, which involved 12 hospitalizations and 17 medical specialists, and I had to allow my web site to elapse, and I was forced to discontinue playing the Shakuhachi.  And six months ago, the snake oil salesmen have advised my wife and me that I only had a year left to live – not that I believe them worth a hoot.  But, at 77 now,  I’ve gotten back into the Shakuhachi, really starting off all over again as a brand new beginner.

Gene, you are my new Shakuhachi hero!


"An artist has got to be careful never really to arrive at a place where he thinks he's "at" somewhere. You always have to realise that you are constantly in the state of becoming. And as long as you can stay in that realm, you'll sort of be all right"
Bob Dylan

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