Shakuhachi player Ishikawa Toshimitsu

　ISHIKAWA TOSHIMITSU - Shakuhachi player
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ISHIKAWA TOSHIMITSU

Ishikawa Toshimitsu studied Kinko-ryu shakuhachi music and other classical honkyoku (solo compositions that were played by the zen priests, komuso, in a form of meditation known as suizen) under Tajima Tadashi and Yokoyama Katsuya. He graduated first in the 37th term of the Japanese music school, NHK Hogaku Ginosha Ikuseikai, and also passed the NHK audition. In 1995, he trained as an intern of the Arts and Culture division of the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs. In 1996, Ishikawa was awarded the Osaka Arts Theater's Shorei-Shinjin prize, and in 1997, was awarded the Shorei prize at the 3rd All Japan Hogaku contest. From 1993, Ishikawa has presented six recitals and has also produced the following concerts: "Masterpieces of Fukuda Rando", "Romance of Wind and Strings", and "Shakuhachi Honkyoku of an Autumn Night". Starting from 1990, he began performing internationally in such places as India, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Belgium, and the United States. Besides his personal work which focuses on the classical honkyoku and the music of Fukuda Rando, he also participates in the shakuhachi ensamble, Fudo (children of the wind), with Yonemura Reisho and Okada Michiaki, where they are actively performing in concerts, radio broadcasts, and making CD recordings. Solo CD "Ikkan ken-mei (In Dead Earnest)", and"Ikkan ken-mei 2" is now on sale. Besides being a member of the Orchestra Asia "Japan Ensemble" and a representative of the Osaka Hogaku Solisten, Ishikawa also presides over his own organization, Ishi no Kai, periodically holds training classes for the public, and is a permanent lecturer of the International Shakuhachi kenshukan.

ISHIKAWA TOSHIMITSU :
1-15-20-706 Nishiokamoto, Higashinada-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken 658-0073 JAPAN
TEL/FAX 078-431-5680
admin@shaku8-ishikawa.com

　Now on sale!
Solo CD "Ikkan ken-mei (In Dead Earnest)"
Classic Masterpieces of Shakuhachi
\2500

This CD of the classic "honkyoku" pieces that have been taught in Yokoyama Katsuya's school, would be the most suitable for your self education, as the instrument used here is the shakuhachi of the most common length, isshaku-hassun (1.8' - Key of D).
You may also purchase the CD at the site of Monty Levenson.

1. Yamagoe (Going Over the Mountain)
2. San An (Safe Childbirth)
3. Nezasa Shirabe (Original Tuning of the Nezasa Sect)
4. Koku (Empty Sky)
5. Koden Sugomori (Nesting of the Crane"original version")
6. Tamuke (Offerings)
7. Sagariha (Hanging Leaves)
8. San Ya (Three Valleys)
9. Hon Shirabe (Original Tuning)

　Now available!
Second Solo CD "Ikkan ken-mei 2 (In Dead Earnest 2)"
Classic Masterpieces of Shakuhachi
\2500

1. Sokkan
2. Takiochi
3. Tsuru no sugomori
4. Da ha
5. San ya
6. Singetsu
7. Azuma jishi
8. Reibo

SOUND FILES　　　

"San ya"(Honkyoku)
"Daha"
"Takiochi"(Honkyoku)
"Azuma jishi"(Honkyoku)
From the CD "Ikkan ken-mei 2 (In Dead Earnest 2)"
(C)2002,Ishikawa Toshimitsu

"Yamagoe"(Honkyoku)

from the CD "Ikkan ken-mei (In Dead Earnest)"
(C)2000, Ishikawa Toshimitsu

"Miyamahigurashi"(Fukuda Rando)

from the CD "Shakuhachi"
(C)Nihon Cultures co.,Ltd.

"Daiyon FUDO" (Kineya Seiho)

from the CD "FUDO"
(C)1994, KYOTO RECORDS

"Komm ins Offene, Freund!" (Holderlin)

from the CD"Eisler songs"
(C)1998, opera club office

"Kimiya Wasuru"

(C)Kawata Chiharu, 1997

The heart of the Japanese classic in the album IN DEAD EARNEST

The shakuhachi music that has been developed by the many artists of the world seems to be gaining a popularity as what we call "World music".

The surprising expressive power due to the wide dynamic range and the lyrical tone colour --- besides these attractiveness, shakuhachi holds a unique spirituality in itself.

To consider the history of shakuhachi and the philosophy behind the expression, Honkyoku (basic pieces) is an indispensable key point, for that shakuhachi used to be, and still is, a peculiar instrument of the religious training of Zen Buddhism.

After the Sengoku period (1467-1568), the number of samurai who lost their masters in the succeeded wars became wandering Buddhist priests called komuso. The number of komuso formed Fuke sect of Zen, and composed the most of the Honkyoku that remains today, to play in their religious mendicancy.

Naturally, The basic intellects of samurai, Bujutsu (military arts) and Zen Buddhism were reflected in the composition of komuso. For an example, the word to explain the rhythm of Honkyoku, "Ma (distance)" is also an important idea of Bujutsu and Zen. In Bujutsu, the distance between two blades decides which one to survive. According to the philosophy of Zen Buddhism, reality is in the distance between a man and nature. What makes a good expression is the right distance between two notes and two phrases, and how deeply the player consider the meaning of "Ma" decides the quality of his performance. In this way, Honkyoku exists as a way of the introspection, to see ones philosophical achievement.

Toshimitsu Ishikawa gives each one of the old tunes a life again, to make the heart of the Japanese classic audible. His music is not talkative, but you will hear the nothingness between two phrases really speaks.

[Ishikawa Toshimits's Performing Schedule]

This page is written or translated by Matsumoto Taro

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