Yoshio Kurahashi,
shakuhachi
Yoshio Kurahashi is well known to North American and European students and devotees of traditional
shakuhachi music.
An enthusiastic and energetic man with a keen sense of humor and a generous
attitude toward foreigners interested in Japanese music, he often leaves his
native Kyoto to present concerts and teach small enclaves of shakuhachi players
scattered around the world. In a distinctly modern way he continues the old
tradition of the kumoso - Buddhist monks who played shakuhachi as they wandered
around begging alms.
At the age of 10 Yoshio Kurahashi began studying shakuhachi with
his father Yodo Kurahashi, a respected master himself and founder of the
Mujuan shakuhachi school. Yoshio Kurahashi went on to study with
Homei Matsumura of Nara, and in 1976 he presented his first solo concert
in Osaka, winning the Osaka Cultural Festival Award.
After taking over the directorship of the Mujuan school in 1980, Yoshio Kurahashi
embarked on the busy touring schedule that has become a way of life for him,
teaching and performing throughout Asia, Europe, Israel, and the United States.
In 1989 he became director of the Kyoto Sankyoku Association, and in 1990
director of the Kyoto Hogaku (traditional music) Group. In addition to these
duties he is a counselor to the Kyoto Artists Association and a musical
director of Osaka City University.
B>Yoshio Kurahashi is sought out by composers who wish to write non
traditional music for the shakuhachi because of his phenomenal technique.
When called upon to do so he can play modern flute parts and has been know
on occasion to sit down with string players and play Mozart flute quartets.
Yoshio Kurahashi gave his first New York recital in 1981 and
premiered A Flying Maiden for shakuhachi and brass by Tetsunosuke Kushida
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. In 1984 Mr. Kushida wrote another work,
Figurations, for the same grouping, and this was premiered in Kyoto.
1986 found Yoshio Kurahashi giving lectures at Tel-Aviv University,
Hebrew University, and Bar-Ilan University, with recitals in Jerusalem
and Haifa. In 1987 he toured in Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Since then Yoshio Kurahashi has served as director of the Kyoto
Japanese Music Players' Association, director of the Kyoto Hagaku Group,
and premiered works by such composers as Meir Mindel, Randall, Don Stein,
and Fijumi Shimoyama. As a teacher he has started annual intensive shakuhachi
classes in Dallas, TX, Boston, MA, New York, NY, Boulder, CO, Montreal,
Canada and Paris, France. Other appearances include Emory University in Atlanta, GA.
In 1999 Yoshio Kurahashi was given an award for his achievements
in the arts by the Culture and Arts Association of Kyoto City. His CD Kyoto Spirit
on the Sparkling Beatnik label was awarded Best World Music "CD OF THE YEAR"
by New Age Magazine.