A vertical flute made with natural bamboo that plays beautiful, mystical sounds.

The shakuhachi is said to have originated several thousand years ago in Central Asia It arrived Japan during the Nara Period after crossing over into China from India, together with Buddhism.

Initially it was used as an instrument for playing traditional Japanese court music and ancient shakuhachis are kept at shrines and temples such as the Shosouin and Horyuji.

These ancient shakuhachis are, however, different in length and shape compared to recent instruments.

Eventually this flute became an instrument for those referred to as Zen and Fuke sect.

These Buddhists roamed the country wearing a "amigasa" (braided hat) and playing their shakuhachi flute.

Some were said to have put their privilege to use and performed spy activities during the Edo Period.

When the Fuke sect was obliterated in the Meiji Period, music notes were completed and the shakuhachi was remodeled as an instrument that could be enjoyed by all people.

The world has come to love the mystical and dynamic sound that comes from this instrument made out of one bamboo. It is possible to reach a range of between two to three octaves.

The average shakuhachi has five tuning holes; four tuning holes in the front and one in the back. There is a shakuhachi that has seven tuning holes for playing folk songs as well.

The name "Shakuhachi" originates from its length which is expressed as being "isshaku hachi-sun" (one "shaku" and eight "hachi"sun) long, and based on this length, the D note will be played when all the tuning holes are covered. When the length increases by one "sun" (3.03 cm), the pitch will decrease by a half tone, and when the length decreases by one "sun", the pitch will increase by a half tone.

These are the two practiced schools. The Kinko-ryu goes back approximately 200 years to the middle of the Edo Period and carries on the shakuhachi music that is unique to its respective regions. The Tozan-ryu was founded in Osaka during the Meiji Period and developed notes and modern exam systems that are unique all to its own. The major difference between the two styles can be seen in these shakuhachis' mouthpieces.