If you are looking to buy a well made shakuhachi bamboo flute as it is understood by experienced players in Japan, you should approach your search as if you were going to buy a car.

First, consider your needs as there are different ways to enjoy and benefit from this wonderful instrument. As with a car, you should ask yourself, what do I need this car for? Should it be a Mercedes for classy evening rides to the Ballet?  Perhaps a Porches for those hairy turns on fast highways. Or, maybe just an old dented clunker to get you to the market and back on Sunday mornings? Any of these are fine and have their counter parts in the shakuhachi world (priced accordingly). But, if you're thinking about a discontinued import from an unstable country, parts may not be available should the government topple (think Yugo), or just plain disappear.

A fine shakuhachi flute is one that is well made made according to one of the traditional styles of the shakuhachi in Japan. Note the usage of "well made" and traditional. There are many not so well made flutes out there that may not work in accordance to fine shakuhachi music. The tuning may be off, the notes week, or the bore in improper aspect ratio. These are "junk yard" shakuhachi. I've come across many in Japan (and else where). If you, by chance, come into possession of one of these, I'll be glad to evaluate it for free. Sometimes it's  just a simple repair and can be up and running relatively easily. Hopefully, it won't be a "for parts only" shakuhachi.

 There are two main styles, the modern JIARI Bore flute for Sankyoku, Minyo or Tozan study, or the older Zen JINASHI style flute for Honkyoku.  Jiari translates as "there is Ji" in Japanese. Ji is a plaster like paste that dries hard as stone and is used as a filler inside the flute to fully manipulate the bore profile for the proper modern tuning of pitch, timbre and response. Jinashi translates as "there is no Ji". This style of shakuhachi utilizes the natural bore profile but usually has a coat of urushi lacquer inside to prevent mold from forming.

Shakuhachi are classified by length in Japan. The standard length and style used for most teaching and study is the JIARI 1.8 - one point eight Japanese feet,  54mm, 21 1/2". Another popular length is the 1.6 because these two lengths play well with the Koto, another traditional Japanese instrument. Jiari shakuhachi are th emost common kind of shakuhachi used in Japan by professional players. These come in lengths from 1.3 - 2.8 G# - G Western pitch.

The JINASHI can also be used by professional players for the more natural earthy bamboo flute sound but is usually relgated to the temples of Komuso Monks or other Zen Buddhist players of the Fuke Sect. OR, anyone interested in a natural bore flute for meditative, relaxing playing. However, the famous Komuso Monk WATAZUMI, pushed these flutes to the limits and reinterpreted some Zen Honkyoku music into his style called Dokyoku. Dokyoku must be played on well made Jinashi flutes as all the advanced fingerings required of the complex Honkyoku music needs to work in order to play it. Jinashi flutes come in many lengths but long Jinashi flutes called CHOUKAN are generally preferred by experienced players as they are deeper with wider vibrations. It should be noted that WATAZUMI brought the shakuhachi back to it's origins of communing with nature by using completely natural shakuhachi called HOCCHIKU. These all all natural with not lacquer or inlays. Only a piece of bamboo pulled from the ground , hollowed out and with holes drilled into it.

Seriously folks, a shakuhachi can be a simple flute or a very complex one and still be considered a real shakuhachi.  If you are considering an importnat  purchase, you may want to get to know the maker by contacting her/him.  You should consider what is important in your purchase and ask questions such as:

1) Is this an authentic Japanese Shakuhachi?  If the instrument is produced from country of it's origin, then it is authentic. Whether it is a fine shakuhachi instrument or a meditation flute is left for discovery.

2) Is this shakuhachi made to play shakuhachi music?  A lot of flutes are made by hobbyists or monks and do not make great music instruments. But, they can be fine for simple meditative playing. A shakuhachi made for traditional lessons or concert performances of shakuhachi music should react in predictable ways according to standard playing abilities of professionals players. This is in accordance to style of music. Therefore, each school usually have makers specializing in the flutes that produce instruments that behave accordingly.

3) Is this flute in tune? Well made shakuhachi flutes can usually play up to the middle of the third octave in tune with itself.

4) Is there a guarantee? If you are purchasing an expensive shakuhachi, you should ask if the flute can be evaluated by a professional. Most legitimate dealers in the USA will let you take the flute to a teacher. I offer evaluation services for free.

If you are having trouble deciding what kind of shakuhachi you will need, visit the International Shakuhachi Forum at http://www.shakuhachiforum.com where there are teachers and professional and amateur players who will offer their honest opinions to help you find the right flute for your needs.  As many of you well know, eBay can be a great place to find a great product at a super price. It can also be place where you may not get what you think you are purchasing.

I am a government supported artist through the National Endowment for the arts, Japan-US Friendship Commission, New York State Council for the Arts and  International House of Tokyo. I received these grants to help spread the shakuhachi clearly outside of Japan. I encourage you to do a little  research if you are thinking about a purchase. A little education on this esoteric instrument can go a long way since it is shrouded in "ancient" folk lore and spiritual trappings.  However, a little research can take you down a path you can walk for many years to come.

Please feel free to email me or visit my store  for more info and a sampling of some authentic Japanese shakuhachi flutes that I've collected:

Zen Shakuhachi Bamboo Flutes

Thanks and enjoy your time moment to moment, Perry