Learning To Play Shakuhachi

One of our chief goals in establishing the KSK-NA is to provide timely information about shakuhachi teaching and training opportunities available to students in North America.

Please feel free to contact us via email if you have any questions about teacher availability of if you would like more information about any of the learning opportunities we post here.

Individual Lessons

These instructors are available for individual instruction, either in-person or via internet:

In Japan:

Kakizakai Kaoru: Kakizakai Sensei resides in Saitama Prefecture northwest of Tokyo and teaches from his home studio via Skype/FaceTime. His primary focus is on teaching Classical Honkyoku in the style of Yokoyama Sensei, though he is also a tremendous resource of learning Fukuda Rando pieces and some Sankyoku as well. Several of us are or have been Skype /FaceTime students of Kakizakai Sensei and can personally vouch for the efficacy of this approach to learning from him. Please be aware as well that Kakizakai Sensei typically travels to the western US – Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Denver – twice a year and that during those visits he is available for face-to-face lessons as well.

More information about Kakizakai Sensei and studying with him is available at: www.kakizakai.com

In North America:

Marco Lienhard:  Marco is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist who trained with Yokoyama Katsuya as well as KSK instructors Furuya Teruo and Tadashi Tajima.  He teaches students of all levels in multiple shakuhachi genres including Honkyoku, Min’yo, Sankyoku and contemporary music.  Though headquartered in New York, Marco is available for in-person lessons in any city in which he happens to be performing.  Online lessons are also possible and you can find information about lesson availability on his website, www.marcolienhard.com.


Patrick Johnson: Patrick is a longtime student of Kakizakai Sensei who teaches out of his home studio in Seattle and via internet. With Kaki Sensei’s full endorsement, Patrick focuses primarily on teaching Classical Honkyoku to beginning and intermediate students.  

You can find more information about Patrick and the dojo in Seattle, the Seattle Shakuhachi Study Group, at www.seattlebambooflute.org 

Group Learning

KSK Workshops in Japan: These are three-day workshops taught by Mr. Furuya, Mr. Matama and Mr. Kakizakai, that are typically scheduled in the late spring and late summer in both of two locations, the Mitsu Minne Shinto Shrine in the mountains above Chichibu in Saitama Prefecture, and at the KSK training center in Bisei, near Okayama. The workshop program typically includes group instruction in a few Koten Honkyoku pieces as well as one Fukuda Rando piece; individual lessons; a teacher concert and a student recital. There is also ample opportunity to socialize with regular workshop participants, many of whom speak excellent English. 

Seattle Shakuhachi Matsuri: This one-day event is typically held annually at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington and usually includes several morning and afternoon workshops for students of all ability levels in addition to a student recital and a faculty performance.  Past teachers have included Mr. Kakizakai, Mr. Matama and Mr. Furuya from the KSK; Ralph Samuelson from New York; local artist Hanz Araki (Araki Kōdō V), the current head of the Kodo-kan in Japan; Seattle musicologist, Chris Mau; and the co-founders of the Matsuri, Larry Tyrrell from Portland and Patrick Johnson from Seattle.  It tends to be a laid back and enjoyable, and yet very productive, event for all attendees.