MYOAN TAKE CHICAGO

2011-09-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

August 2011 at Aruba with all Horiuchi Family.

Playing shakuhachi at Aruba, Hotel Marriott.

Aruba Beach.

My grandson taking nap.

Enjoying the beach.

2011-06-15T03:29:00.000-07:00

At chinease garden, vancouver, canada infront of statue "Dr. sun yat sen."

2011-06-15T03:20:00.000-07:00

at totems poles center Ketchian, Alaska.

2011-06-15T03:15:00.000-07:00

in front of glacier at juneau, alaska.

2011-06-15T03:10:00.000-07:00

salmon hatchery at juneau, alaska.

2011-06-15T02:52:00.000-07:00

in the back of hotel,fairbanks,alaska at the first day of this trip.

2011-04-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

April 2011, at anelevated park knwon as the high line park in the lower manhattan, n.y. hudson river seen in the back.

2011-04-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

April 2011, at an elevated park known as the high line park right in the lower manhattan, n.y. part of construction done and open to the public.

2011-04-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

April, 2011 At an elevated park known as the High line right in the lower manhattan, New york. part of constraction done and open to the public. with my grandsons.

2011-04-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

April 2011, at Louis armstrong's house (king of jazz) in corona,queens, new york

2011-04-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

April 2011, At louis armstrong's house (king of jazz) in corona,queens,new york. with tour guide.

2010-12-04T09:20:00.000-08:00

November, 2010 at Sydney, Australia.

2010-12-04T09:06:00.000-08:00

At the japanese war cemetery in Cowra, Australia.

2010-12-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

At the japanese war cemetery in Cowra, australia.

2010-12-04T08:40:00.000-08:00

Sun-rise at lord howe island, a lot of birds above.

2010-12-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

At the beavh behind hotel , Lord howe island, Australia

2010-12-04T07:45:00.001-08:00

2010-12-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

2010-12-04T07:25:00.000-08:00

at the japanese garden in Cowra, Australia. nov. 2010

2010-03-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

2010-03-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

2010-01-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

Morimasa Horiuchi Plays Murasaki no Kyoku

2010-01-11T13:54:00.000-08:00

X'mas party 2009 at N.J.

2010-01-05T17:08:00.000-08:00

2009-11-05T16:58:00.000-08:00

Hanmer springs, New zealand. Oct. 2009

2009-11-05T16:53:00.000-08:00

Hanmer springs New zealand. Oct. 2009

2009-11-05T13:08:00.000-08:00

2009-05-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

At the "Fallingwater" with wife.

2009-05-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

May, 2009. Frank Lloyd Wright "Fallingwater" at south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Playiong shakuhachi.

2009-03-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

2008-11-08T23:24:00.000-08:00

three of us at outback Australia oct. 2008

2008-11-08T23:16:00.000-08:00

playing shakuhachi at outback australia, oct. 2008

2008-11-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

komuso vampire at halloween party,at nature center,il. oct.2008

2008-11-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

2008-11-08T12:13:00.000-08:00

playing shakuhachi at blue Mt., australia. oct.2008

2008-09-24T17:57:00.000-07:00

Taken during Shakuhachi lesson break on September 22, 2008. At the end of the lesson, we watched Sumo on TV Japan.

2008-09-11T16:01:00.000-07:00

At the victory party that evening, I played Shakuhachi.

2008-09-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

Summer of 2008: Horiuchi family gathered in San Francisco to support Masa and her relay team, Team Awesome, as they participated in the Vineland Triathelon in Napa Valley, where they placed second in their group.

2008-06-25T19:09:00.000-07:00

I Circled the piece we played, "Dako"

2008-06-25T19:07:00.000-07:00

Shakuhachi Honkyoku Taikai held October 31, 1965 at Tofukuji, Kyoto program

2008-06-25T18:57:00.000-07:00

Kyozan checking bamboo we brought back from Kyoto.

2008-06-25T18:55:00.000-07:00

Nov. 4, 1965 (Thursday) Last day of trip to Kyoto, Ouhara and Ayabe

In the morning, 7:15 AM, arrived at Tokyo Station. I went home once to change cloths and left my belongings. I got to the office at 10:00 AM. All day fighting my sleepiness, actually cannot work at all. There were very few people in the office. Later, I found out, it was because today was the last day of pro-baseball national championship series. The other office workers seem to have gone to watch the game on TV. Later, I found out that Nankai Hawks won the pennant.

2008-06-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

At Amano Hashi Date: Everybody playing "Takiochi"

2008-06-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

At Amano Hashi Date: SAKAO, KAWAHARA, ME, NAGAMINE, SHIMIZU

2008-06-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

At Amano Hashi Date: ME POSING AS A SAMURAI

2008-06-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

At Amano Hashi Date: SAKAO, KYOZAN, NAGAMINE, ME, SHIMIZU, TOMIYAMA

2008-06-24T19:47:00.000-07:00

At Amano Hashi Date: KYOZAN, TOMIYAMA, SAKAO, NAGAMINE, ME

2008-06-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

At Amano Hashi Data. Me doing famous between the legs sightseeing.

2008-06-24T19:42:00.000-07:00

At Amano Hashi Date, Kyozan

2008-06-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

At Amano Hashi Date. Front, left to right: TOMIYAMA, KAWAHARA, KYOZAN. BACK LEFT TO RIGHT: SHIMIZU, SAKAO, NAGAMINE, KANEKO, ME

2008-06-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Nov. 3, 1965 (Sunday) Trip to Kyoto, Ouhira and Ayabe

Today is Culture Day, a national holiday. Chrysanthemums are in full bloom. Around 6:30 AM, I am up, staying in bed with open eye, I heard Kyozan go to the bathroom. I was up next and went to the 2nd floor corridor and, leaning against the handrail, I saw the view outside: Yura River right in front us, running slowly from left to right, and behind it, there are nice shape of mountains. Really nice view and with deep breeze, I feel good. Then I dropping my eye to the floor, I said, “oh, no.” I saw that someone had thrown up on the floor; a mountain of some yucky stuff on the floor. I thought the culprit seems to be one of the guys still sleeping.

In front of the entrance gate downstairs, we left all of our bamboo roots and on top of the green bamboo roots, I see morning dew glistening. I took a walk into the back mountains, and then did karate forms a couple of times. I met Kyozan, who is also taking a walk, with camera in his hand. I spoke a couple of words with him. I was told to clean up the mess. I came back to the 2nd floor and started to clean up the mess. At this time, Mr. Sakao came to see me and saying “yada, yada” he fled. It looks like he was not the culprit.

With Kyozan facing the morning mountain and river, I played “Choshi,” Kokuu,” and “Sanya” with all my power. After playing the shakuhachi, all drunkenness was gone, and I felt very regenerated.

Gradually, people started to get up. At 8:00 AM, breakfast, all of the windows were opened. Kyozan in kimono, sat at the head of the long table in front of tokonoma (alcove). His students sat neatly on both sides of the table. Last night’s cute lady, in charge of service, served us breakfast.

Subdued and calm atmosphere, I feel like time slipped back to Meiji era’s Kigensetsu (National Foundation Day, no longer celebrated as a holiday, but still observed privately). It was abolished after World War 2, still something intensive. I feel very much like Natsume Soseki’s era in terms of the relationship between teachers and students.

Mr. Nagamine does not eat breakfast. After breakfast, we packed our belongings and left for one of the three beautiful sites in Japan: Amano-hashi-date. On the train, Mr. Nagamine was very quiet and spiritless, looking like he was the culprit of last night’s happenings. Around noon time, we arrived at Amino-hashi-date Station. In front of the station, stores and teahouses were lined up, and people come out to the street to greet us and try to grab us into their stores. We checked into one of the stores and ordered nabeyaki-udon and left our heavy luggage there temporarily. Taking only our cameras and shakuhachi, we started sightseeing.

Getting on the boat, we rode for about 15 minutes. On the right hand side were pine trees all lined up. We arrived at the other side of land. From there, we took a cable car and went up to the top of the mountain. From there, we all did the famous view looking between our legs, and took a couple of commemorative pictures. On the way back, while we were walking through the short pine trees, Kyozan, all of sudden, said “follow me” and walked right into the short pine tree woods and sat himself in the best place and said “you guys sit down anyplace,” and he said “we will play “Takiochi” together and pay respect to Amino hashi date. All of us sat among the pine trees, and played “Takiochi” with one, two, three, with one stroke, one push. The sound rose up among the pine trees and billowed away all over. When I saw Kyozan, the sea was in the background, among the pine trees, I felt like seeing someone like hermit or a wizard. Kyozan said, “this will be one thing to remember someday in your life.”

We took the train from Amino hashi date all the way to Osaka. Mr. Kaneko, still Waseda student, started to count the money left in his wallet. I also lent 2,000 yen to Mr. Sakao. In the train to Osaka, we were all involved deeply in the game Mr. Shimizu introduced to us. We arrived in Osaka at 8:15 PM. Mr. Shimizu went to Nara, Mr. Kawahara returned to his Panasonic dormitory. Mr. Tomiyama stayed in Osaka overnight to do sightseeing tomorrow. Everybody dispersed from Osaka Station. Five of us got on train “Ikoma” at 8:50 PM, leaving Osaka for Tokyo. The train was almost empty. We slept a little bit, with all kinds of pleasant memory coming back.

2008-06-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

Left to right, Tomiyama, Nagamine, Sakao, Kaneko
at 2nd floor of ryokan, Shisui-kaku, Ayabe

2008-06-23T17:34:00.000-07:00

Nov. 2, 1965 Trip to Kyoto Oohara, Ayabe Bamboo digging

Today again, all others were still sleeping. I was up again at 6:30 AM. Finished using the restroom and washed my face. As morning routine, I go outside and run a little along side of Kamo River. Then Karate forms for 3 to 4 minutes. Same time as usual, seems like commuting time, nice looking young girls waiting at the bus stop in front of Kinosho. Breakfast at 800 AM, everybody had a good appetite, then discussed today’s strategy.

Kyozan says he will visit Mr. Koizumi’s house where he will meet Mr. Yasumoto. Looks like over there they will drink and play shakuhachi. As planned before, 2 or 3
PM we have to be at Shisuikaku (ryokan) at Ayabe, which was the place introduced by Mr. Shimizu. Kyozan will join us there by 6:00 PM.

So in the morning, we will look around Kyoto and at noon, leave Kyoto by semi-express train. We each wrote a Sanzen-in picture postcards and mailed them to Mr. Ishii at Yamaguchi, Mr. Nakanishi at Okayama, and Mr. Ito at Fukuoka. All our bags to be carried on were left at the front of ryokan. We got on the city’s streetcar, went to Shijyo first, and while we walking around the city, we came to a store selling Kyoto’s famous cake “Kama-buro”, so I bought one package as a gift to my house.

At Yasaka-jinjya, we took a couple of pictures, and when it became time to go, we got in two separate taxies and returned to our ryokan, loaded all our bags, and went back to Kyoto Station. Mr. Nagamine collected money from everybody, and went to buy our train ticketsm and we got on semi-express train “Kinosaki” at 12:30 PM.

The train ran between the mountains, and now down under right hand-side Hotsu-River Canyon running, nice view and beautiful sight. People on the boats waved to us in the train. We arrived at Ayabe Station, called our new ryokan, and asked how to go by taxi; it took 5-6 minutes. We crossed Yura River and about half way up the mountain was our ryokan, “Shisuikaku.” The Innkeeper lady took us to the 2nd floor. Underneath our eye, there was Yura River running slowly, full of water, under the bright autumn sun, and beyond it, there are nice shaped mountains. I saw kakejiku (picture) in the tokonoma (alcove). It read: “ nakano yoi, futari no youna, yama to kawa.” With haiku saying “there is water and mountains, just like good friend to each other.” Nobody had eaten lunch yet, so we asked the maid for something to eat. Immediately, they made tamago-don, then we opened our packages of bamboo at the front gate. Now I found that mine was cut off a little bit short. I chided myself “why didn’t I cut one joint above?”

Definitely, this place, Ayabe, is the last chance to get good bamboo, and again we prepared and rushed to the woods alongside of Yura River. Finally, I got right size of 1.8 shaku bamboo, and this time I cut off one joint above 1.8 shaku. Now everybody was washing the bamboo roots in Yura River. Sunset, sky getting red and dark behind the mountains. Went back to ryokan, and maid told us the bath is ready, so me and Sakao went downstairs to take bath and washed away all sweat and dirt of today. We gave button touch (passed the baton) to next group of Mr. Kaneko and Mr. Tomiyama. After awhile they came back complaining that bath was closed because of damage to the boiler or some other reason. We were saved by one minute difference.

Mr. Shimizu arrived from Tokyo, and we got information that Kyozan will be late tonight, so we started our dinner together. We got free service of beer, and dinner was wonderful too. The maid who served sake was quite cute, our banquet continued with a lot of laughter and talking. Around 8:00 PM Kyozan arrived. So we ordered additional beer. On the paper cover of wooden chopstck, there was written folk song of Ayabe. Kyozan asked the maid to sing it for us. When she started to sing, we all clapped hands. It had a slow tempo, but beautiful song. Kyozan kept saying someone should learn how to sing this song. Around 9:30 PM Mr. Kawahara arrived from Osaka. He had brought with him a bottle of Nikka black whisky. Now that everybody was here, we played shakuhachi together. After that our party with drinks fired on. Big discussions, lots of laughing.

Kyozan went to bed early. Our bed was laid out in a big room, next to each other, like elementary school’s excursion night. I could hear Mr. Nagamine’s heated talk, and loud voice, with Mr. Tomiyama. I heard him keep saying, “ I will do it absolutely.” Around 1:30 - 2 AM, we were totally drunk and went to bed. I heard Kyozan’s snoring. I felt very hot all over me and hard to sleep. Someone was moaning, someone was grinding his teeth. Finally I fell asleep too.

2008-06-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

Showing off bamboo harvest in front of ryokan, Kinosho.
Front, Sakao, Me, Rear, left to right, Nagamine, Kaneko

2008-06-22T21:37:00.000-07:00

In front of Sanzen-in

2008-06-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

Tomiyama washing bamboo at the brook.

2008-06-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

Fighting in bamboo woods at Ouhara, Kyoto

2008-06-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Between fighting in the woods, eating Udon at small restaurant.

2008-06-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

Nov. 1, 1965 (Monday) Third day of trip to Kyoto

I was up around 6 AM, opened window halfway to see outside from my bed, and I saw outside is clean blue sky of autumn. Today started slowly, group of birds passing through, I cannot stay still anymore. I went to bathroom and washed my face and went out of ryokan. I ran a little bit alongside Kamo River. Surrounded by Kyoto’s mountains, Kamo River glistens against the morning sun. I did karate forms on the bank of Kamo River. I feel invigorated, and felt like I will get good bamboo in the forest today.

Back to the room, I saw Kyozan in kimono, sitting at the table writing some memo. All others were still sleeping. A little while later Mr. Nagamine got up and 2nd floor people came down last, still in their pajamas. After 7:30 AM breakfast, we changed to digging shakuhachi attire. Look at Mr. Kaneko’s attire: black jacket, black pants and wearing black jikatabi (Edo period construction worker’s shoe), I though he looked like a specialist going to get poison-snake.

We got on bus going to Ouhara in front of the ryokan. On the bus, another surprise: there were 5-6 young people dressed in style of mountain climbers, carrying rope and picks. I wonder if there is such mountains for rock climbing somewhere around end of this bus route. Getting close to Ouhara, view from the window, left and right, changing to the bamboo forest, made me excited. Getting off at Ouhara, we are surprised to see so many students (girls and boys) on their school excursions because there are so many good spots like Sanzen-in, Jyakou-in, etc. From the bus-station, far end of rice field, I see appealing bamboo forest. So let’s attack! Everybody rushed into the forest. “I need to calm down my excitement, and make base camp alongside the brook first” I thought. Carrying sickle, saw and shakuhachi-measuringe template, etc., we spread into the forest. Wandering in the forest, I met Mr. Sakao, then I saw Mr. Nagamine measuring bamboo. I myself found bamboo that looks nice, so I cut off the top part of the bamboo with my saw, then cut the roots using the sickle and tried to pry out the bamboo with my whole body. But this one was growing in the sand, it’s roots were so deep, so I made a big hole and pulled using all my body weight but it did not budge at all. So I simply gave up, no use wasting time on this one, as I thought I should attack some other place and started looking in the woods again. I met Mr. Kaneko shaking the roots left and right. I looked closely at his bamboo and noticed it had a crack. I asked “is this OK?” He replied “OK, the crack is not extended up to here,” and started again to shake the bamboo left and right. I saw another bamboo grove on the other side of the brook, and decided I like to try there. I tried to cross the brook, but no way to get there, so finally I gave up that place and entered alone into the grove I saw before, near the bus station. I climbed up the cliff, jumped the brook, look left and right in the woods, but I could not find anything good. So again I gave up this woods. I went final spot, the same spot the other side of the brook. So I detoured, crossed the bridge, made left turn and went down to the next targeted woods. I looked around with high tension, I find some evidence that this is the place. Because there were a couple of old bamboo roots which someone had already dug out and left there. I picked up left-over bamboo roots and found bug bite holes. I finally found two 1.8 shaku pieces, and one 1.9 shaku piece. I came back to the base camp and saw Mr Tomiyama washing bamboo roots by the river. I asked, “where is everybody?” He said they went to the woods above the brook. Both of us took pictures in front of our big harvest, and I picked up one stone from the brook as memorial gift. We went after them calling their name but could not find them, so we returned to the bus stop, thinking they might drop in the tea place and eat something.

On the way back to the bus stop, I met all-white hair, elegant-looking man, and thought I remember having met him somewhere. He carried a shakuhachi-shaped bag. First I thought he must be one of the guys who attended yesterday’s shakuhachi conference at Toufuku-ji and had also extended his trip here to Ouhara today. But I thought he must be Mr. Tashiro from Niigata. So I approached him, “excuse me, but are you Mr Tashiro?” He said, “yes, I am.” He said he just left Kyozan and was looking for him again. I said you will probably find him at the bus stop, and we will meet him tonight at Shinnyo-ji, next to Tooji-in. Kyozan might be now at Jakou-in, and we are all staying alongside Kamo River ryokan named Kinosho. After giving him all that kind of information, we came to the bus stop just to see them coming down the slope from right hand side. We joined together, saying “hai, hai, yoo, yah.” They said they just finished seeing Sanzen-in, showing us the picture post card from there.

We went to a nearby restaurant. I ordered udon noodle, after that Kyozan left to go to Shinnyo-ji. We promised to meet him at Shinnyo-ji around 4:00 PM.

Until then the others attacked final woods for shakuhachi. Mr. Tomiyama and I, not yet having seen Sanzen-in, we first visited Sanzen-in. Under warm sunshine, Sanzen-in welcomed us with all-green moss covered, quiet garden. There are so many young girls at Sanzen-in, paid entrance fee, we went inside. Took pictures here and there, and on the way out I bought picture postcard too.

Then back into the woods. I saw our people fighting with bamboo roots and using all kind of tools. I prepared and attacked bamboo roots at the cliff almost dropping to the road; I found 2-3 good ones and dug them out. I surprised myself that I can dig bamboo with such speed. When it became time to go to Shinnyo-ji, we bundled our bamboo pieces together into three big packages and carried them out of the woods. We were supposed to say “thank you” to the owner of the woods, but the bus going to Kyoto just came, so we jumped on without saying anything.

In front of our ryokan, showing off our harvest, we took commemorative picture.

We returned to change clothes and get ready to go to Shinnyo-ji. We saw Mr Kaneko’s pants, showing his fight in the woods, two leg portion of pants all torn out and showing inside underwear. He came back with scotch-tape barely covering his underpants (good thing is he brought another pair of pants).

Mr. Sakao said he could not come with us to Shinnyo-ji. He seems to have an appointment to meet someone. We got on the streetcar and got off at Enmachi and ate dinner together. We drank beer. I ordered Happosai (Chinese dish), and we walked to next train station called Hakubai-cho Then following our memory, went to Tooji-in, and next to it, there we found Shinnyo-ji. Walking slowly up the stone-slope to the entrance, opening the door, I noticed Kyozan’s familiar geta (wooden-sandal). We were told to come in, so we walked through the corridor to the first room by ourselves because I knew this place, which I visited this past January. After greeting the head priest, we were served good green tea and cake. We talked about this and that. Then we played shakuhachi, starting with “Choshi,” followed by “Takiochi,” “Sashi,” “Kenkosan.” Etc. Gozan Oshou (Mr. Yasumoto) played by himself “Murasakino Kyoku.” Kyozan praised him, and said “you look just like priest Ikkyu,” and Gozan Osho was so pleased. We were served beer and talked a lot and ended by playing “Choshi” again, and left Shinnyo-ji.
We previously visited this past January and remembered playing shakuhachi just like today. We remembered going out from the temple in cold night, snow was flurrying but moon was shining. I remember that picturesque night clearly in my mind. Again, tonight, the priest slowly walked down the same slope of the stone with us to see us off, I see almost full moon among the trees. I see how nice the friendship between priest and Kyozan is. Returning to our ryokan, we ate a snack, and talked, laughed. Then we went to sleep around 11:30 PM.

2008-06-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

After Shakuhachi Conference at Toufukuji Gate, October 31, 1965

2008-06-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

In front of Raisanyo's house, historical site in Kyoto, October 31, 1965

2008-06-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

Fukezuka at Oubaku, Kyoto Oct 31, 1965

2008-06-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Oct. 31, 1965 (Sunday) I was up at 6:00 A.M. Outside is a little bit bright, but I hear the sound of rain drops on the roof. At once, I was worried that we would not be able to go into the bamboo forest. I opened the window and looked up to the sky from my bed, and noticed the clouds were moving pretty fast. I hoped by this pace, it would stop raining before noon. Then I got up and went to the bathroom, washed face. Then waited for breakfast.

In Kyoto, there are many temples and shrines, so this time of the morning, I can hear morning drum-sound and also sound of gong or temple bell, which is nice to my ear. All these sounds seem to cleanse my heart and soul.

Before breakfast, there is some time to play shakuhachi , considering it is too early but I took shakuhachi out and played in front of Sensei Kyozan, “Dako” which we will play today at Toufukuji. I felt in my own head sitting in front of strict teacher and practicing , so I feel my shoulder tightening. After I finished playing, I felt relieved and waited for a second, expecting some advise or something. After a quiet moment, I heard Kyozan’s fart. This was quite a surprise; I was knocked out, Sensei was the winner.

At 7:30 A.M., Mr. Tomiyama arrived first, then Mr. Sakao came, saying that he finished breakfast in front of Kyoto station. A short while later, lady of this ryokan (Japanese inn) came and said someone at the front was asking for Mr. Horiuchi. Thinking something strange, I went to the front desk and found Mr. Nagamine asking for small change of 150 yen because he came by taxi , but he had only big bills. Next Mr. Kaneko came, after having gotten lost, and saying finally found the Ryokan. Mr. Kawahara came last from Osaka saying he left very early in the morning. Everybody had arrived, so we started breakfast. Mr. Sakao was ordered by Kyozan to be in charge of serving breakfast since he had already eaten. Due to the weather , we discussed whether we should go out to dig bamboo, or rather better stay in a tea-house alongside Arashiyama and play shakuhachi all day. But finally we decided to go to the bamboo forest , so we all prepared and left the Ryokan.

First we went to Fuke-zuka at Oubaku where we played “Choshi” and “Kenkosan.” Still there was plenty of time before today’s Zenkoku Shakuhachi Honkyoku
Taikai (National Honkyoku Shakuhachi Conference), so we checked a couple bamboo forests but no good luck, so we gave up and went to Toufukuji. But first we ate lunch at soba-place in front of station. I ordered nabe-yaki udon, 170 yen. Everybody else ordered donburi and Kyozan ordered sushi. Then we went to Ritsukyokuan on the premise of Toufukuji. Passing through it’s splendid gate, Kyozan by himself went to the front receptionist. In the meantime we looked around the garden inside, which was quite beautiful. I heard sound of shakuihachi coming from inside the house which just matched the view of this tranquil garden. Then we were invited inside the house.

At the entrance of the house, I saw familiar face of priest in official kimono with sacred scarf. He is Mr. Yasumoto from Shinnyoji . At the hall, there were about 60 to 70 people sitting and listening to the shakuhachi . Now at this moment, three old men wearing priest’s robe facing toward statue surrounded by candle, playing shakuhachi. We walked behind the people and positioned ourselves at open space facing toward the garden. This garden was completely covered by green moss and kept quietly timeless view. Hearing the shakuhachi in the background and seeing the garden in the front, my heart and mind get serene.

Time came to our turn to play “Dako”. We all went to the waiting room behind the statue. Kyozan gave us some sitting instruction and its space between us. And we all followed Kyozan, took the seat in front of audience. Kyozan bowed to them and said that we are very sorry to come out in such way because we dropped to pay tribute today’s occasion in the middle of digging bamboo. Now Kyozan and us facing to the Kochiku-zenji’s statue and suddenly Kyozan took out special robe as if made out of mosquito-net and put it on. And we all bowed to the statue, slowly started to play “Dako.” First we could not hear the Kyozan’s shakuhachi, so we focused to listen his sound, finally we all heard his shakuhachi, so we all followed him. After finishing our play, we left Ritsukyokuan. At the gate, we saw Myoanji 38-Sei Mr. Koizumi and Mr. Yasumoto, Sinnyoji’s priest. We took a walk to the biggest premise of Toufukuji in Kyoto. It is so beautiful, sunset reflecting the temple’s huge roof. Around 8:00 P.M., we returned to our Ryokan, Kinosho. One by one we took bath and ate dinner together. After dinner, we talked about today’s happening and laughed and at the same time drank beer.

About 11:00 PM we went to bed. Tonight, 2nd floor Kyozan took one room for himself. And Mr. Kaneko and Mr. Tomiyama together in another room, me, Nagamine and Sakao slept downstairs, next room where we ate dinner. In the bed, again we talked and laughed a lot. Then fell to sleep.

2008-06-12T06:11:00.000-07:00

1965 Bammboo digging trip to Kyoto ohara & Ayabe. Showa 40 nen.Oct.30 Sat.(1965) From early in the morning,ideal blue sky just perfect weather like perfect day in a fall. I left home 9:00 am in the morning, prepared everything. Stepped out from home with good jumpy feeling and light foot steps. I describe my style of that day, wearing beret-hat just like Kyozan-bo,corduroy-jacket,black-cotton-pants and for this trip I bought a new hiking-boots, and on my shoulder portable saw and Kama(sickle) in my pocket total amount of 25,000 yen I arrived at Dentsuin at 10:00 am Kyozan-bo is all prepared and waiting. His style is also so great, He is wearing a kimono and underneace it He is wearing another working attire which he can go anytime to go bamboo forest. From dentsuin (where he lives) we get in the car drived by his two sons to Tokyo station. The trafic to the station was so hectic, We regret that week-end, we should use public transportation , not car. Luckly we were able to get on express " kirishima" lv. tokyo 12:30 noon. As soon as we get on train we started to eat eki-bento ( snack selling on the platform ). We arrived Kyoto-station 7:40 pm, outside is already dark, we hesitate where we should eat dinner at Kino-shou inn or somewhere in the kyoto. we decided to eat at shin-kyogoku. In front of sushi-place,we still could not decide yet so we checked into couple more restaurant and finally we stepped into the place looking cool, I ordered beer, kitsune-udon and tendon. on the T.V in the restaurant, it show ,just starting today "Miyamoto-musashi" staring by kitaooji. My dinner cost total 560 yen. Stepped out of the store, it just started rainning I worried about tomorrow's bamboo-forest. We get on city's tram and off at Kawabata-marutacho and arrived at ryokan-Kinoshou alongside Kamo-gawa (kamo-river) around 9:30 pm. e occupied newly built 2nd fl. sensei took bath first and I followed nxt. Before going to bed, we discussed about what we should do when fire started, sensei draw the diagram of ryokan (map) and walked around the room, check the exit, opened door, looked around etc. I was quite amazed and at the same time I was quite impressed that there are same kind of people in the world that my farther would do same kind of things under same situation. Me too opened door looking outside, I said I would jump from here to the ground. He said he would hang on the tree near by the window and go down on the ground. and couple more silly talks back and forth between us. Finaly we went sleep, I hear big snore from sensei.

2008-05-17T14:47:00.000-07:00

Chicago shakuhachi players, Dean,Jeff and me. May 2008

2008-05-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

April, 2008.O.K. corral gunfight, at Tombstone, Arizona

2008-05-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

April 2008. Sabino-canyon, Tucson, Arizona. playing shakuhachi

2008-05-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

April, 2008. at Sonoita winery, Arizona. playing shakuhachi.

2008-05-03T13:09:00.001-07:00

2008-02-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

Collection of photos from shuzenji asahidake komuso kuyou kenso kai Oct.2007

2008-02-03T18:41:00.000-08:00

Enjoy a short sampling of our shakuhachi playing in October 2007!

2008-02-03T17:55:00.000-08:00

Here I am playing Shakuhachi at Shuzenji Asahi-taki Komusou Kuyou Kensou Kai Oct.2007

2008-01-31T17:02:00.000-08:00

My daughter, Masako,borrowed this komuso-basket-hat & shakuhachi from my friend and is standing in front of the statue commemorating the origin of "the taki-ochi-no-kyoku" at shuzenji, japan. Oct. 2007

2008-01-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

With Mr Ishii who is my shakuhachi friend from Waseda Univ., at his home. Oct.2007

2008-01-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

Shuzenji Asahi-taki Komusou Kuyou Kensou Kai Oct.2007

2008-01-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

Together with Mujyu-an Mr Kurahashi & his students infront of Asahi-dake. Oct. 2007

2008-01-26T10:09:00.000-08:00

shuzenji asahidake komuso kuyou kenso kai Oct.2007

2007-10-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

In August 2007, the entire Horiuchi family (Mori, Joyce, Tomu, Ellen, Kai and Masa) visited the Carribbean - Turks and Caicos Islands. Here I am playing Shakuhachi for my grandson Kai in our hotel room.

2007-10-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

On my way to Tokyo, Japan I've stopped off at my daughter's home in Santa Clara, Calif. And tomorrow night I'm going to make my famous "Horiuchi Secret Recipe Gyoza". While in Japan I'm going to meet up with my shakuhachi friends for a special retreat in Shuzenji.

2007-07-23T06:11:00.000-07:00

Great smoky mountains July 2007

2007-07-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

great smoky mountains July 2007

2007-07-23T06:01:00.000-07:00

morning glory at our patio July 2007

2007-06-15T05:46:00.001-07:00

2007-06-14T19:23:00.001-07:00

2007-06-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

At sculpture park, schaumburg Il., me and jeff play shakuhachi.

2007-06-14T18:42:00.000-07:00

At clover cliff ranch, Kansas. I play shakuhachi. May 2007

2007-06-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

tallgrass prairie national preserve, Kansas.May 2007

2007-03-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

Playing myoan choshi at my son Tomu's wedding ,summer of 2004.

2007-03-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

At Mt.holyoke,college,Massachusetts. 1992 fall. Visiting my doughter Masa.

2007-03-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

At ann-arbor,michigan,my cousin Ryu's graduation party.

2007-03-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

At key west ,Florida.

2007-03-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

Prince edward island at pottery house ,joyce,masa,& joyce's mother.

2007-03-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

At prince edward island, Canada.

2007-03-26T07:38:00.000-07:00

Kyozan-bo,yasumoto-gozan, nagamine,kondo,ishii,tomiyama and me. etc.

2007-03-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

shakuhachi fukiawase with kyozan-bo,and yasumoto-gozan.

2007-03-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

seki's house ,Tokyo with my father in the back.

2007-03-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

At Kokusen-kai, with Kyozan-bo.

2007-03-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Komuso.

2007-03-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

After tomu's college graduation party.

2007-03-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

Entertaining the parents of girl scout.