Name of the making dojo: Rolling Cloud Shakuhachi, based in Aotearoa, New Zealand
I am a predominately self-taught Shakuhachi maker who thanks many who have given me advice. I am also blind and this has meant my Shakuhachi have been made using methods that allow me to complete this task. I use two bamboo species that grow on my own property, ‘Black’, which is actually shades of green that change into shades of brown when dry. And ‘Madake’ which is a light tan when dry. The ‘Black’ Shakuhachi are generally a lighter weight than the ‘Madake’. Growing the bamboo myself allows me to observe the bamboo growth over the years required to obtain a culm useable for Shakuhachi.
My flutes are all ‘one-piece’ cut to end on a polished node. Many are matched to particular Keys but many also do not fit a Key, being simply tuned to themselves. I do not insert a Utaguchi but shape and polish the bamboo with a shallow edge.
After completion the bamboo is oiled with walnut oil and cured. My general range is 1.6 to 2.4 shaku.