Every winter repairs flood the shop. Every winter there seems to be more and more flutes coming in. Every year seems to be a record year. I’m surprised that there are so many players in the USA! I get repairs from all over the world, Germany, Australia, Canada, Japan,... but most are domestic repairs. This is certainly a sign that the shakuhachi is spreading far and wide.

A few of the flutes in this month needed joint work - tightening, rebuilding and rewrapping.

Old, damaged or loose rattan joint wraps are replaced with new wrappings like this one.

Many need replaced utaguchi and Ji refurbishing.

The all time popular repair is, of course, cracking.

Aside from the repair work, I answer questions about availability as I can never get to updating my website . This is just a sampling of what I have available day to day. Interested parties should contact me directly on the contact form on this site and let me know your interest and budget. For example, “...looking a Hocchiku that can play San An. I have $1600 or I want to start shakuhachi lessons, I have $95 etc… This will facilitate the response.

A request came in for Choukan this morning. Here’s what’s avaialble. Top to bottom:
1) 2.9, two-piece Chikusing, Ivory Sogawa style inlay - $2,800
2) 2.8 Hocchiku - $1,000
3) 2.7 Chikusing, Ivory Sogawa style inlay, used $1,000

Each piece was harvested in 2002 in Zhejiang China specifically for me under strict criteria for aesthetics, dimensions and density.

Although the shop is packed, please know that your flute has my utmost attention and that progress is always in motion. Sometimes I can not predict the finishing date due to lacquer curing. It is especially difficult this winter due to the temperature fluctuations of the recent snow storms.  In any case, your flute is in good hands.

Oops, how time flies when you’re having fun! I think it’s going to be an art making afternoon with the kids. Did I say, “My life rules!?”