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It's been 30 years since Yokoyama Katsuya (1934 - 2010) founded Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshu-kan in Bisei, Okayama with the aim of spreading shakuhachi music to the world and passing down his expertise and skills to fellow shakuhachi lovers. The World Shakuhachi Festival was first held in 1994 in Bisei, and was subsequently held in Boulder, New York, Sydney, London and so on. Even though Yokoyama Katsuya passed away in 2010, shakuhachi performers in various parts of the world who admire him would hold workshops regularly, not only in the United States and Australia, but in Europe and China where a long tradition of music of their own is carried on. This year in August, Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshu-Kan will host a 30 year anniversary Festival in Bisei which will consist of a symposium to look back on Yokoyama's aspiration, workshops, and community concerts with Bisei's local people, focusing on the Watazumi Honkyoku classics that Yokoyama has handed down. |