I’m soooo exited about this Chikusing commission. I’ve had a streak of luck lately where the flutes are almost making themselves. More often than not, when making Jinashi style flutes, a lot of time is spent adjusting the bore for optimal playability while retaining an organic feel in respect to balance, response and tuning. A few flutes recently exhibited perfect aspect ratios and seemingly made themselves. This 2.7 was commissioned by a student of Micheal Gould. He wanted the best Choukan bass shakuhachi I could make in the Jinashi style, which is my Chikusing Model. So I asked Kinya if he could spare a 2.7 piece of bamboo. He sent me two pieces a 2.7 and 3.0. Both were harvested by Kinya around 2000 near Osaka.

This piece of Japanese Madake sang the second I opened it up and cut the utaguchi. It was even perfectly pitched in G, just as Kinya marked on the root. All I did was listen to some suggestions it was giving me as I played. It responded perfectly to everything it asked me to do. It’s like the ideal playground time with the kids. All fun and no attitude.

Like a perfect day at the playground, it’s gonna be sad when it’s time to leave.