Artist:
Christopher Yohmei Blasdel
PROGRAM: THE ART OF SHAKUHACHI
Christopher Yohmei Blasdel came from the US to Japan in 1972 and began studying the shakuhachi and Japanese music with Japan’s Living National Treasure Goro Yamaguchi. He continued with the master until his death in 1999. In 1982, Blasdel received his MFA in ethnomusicology from Tokyo University of Fine Arts. In 1984 he received a teaching license and was conferred a professional name (Yohmei) from Yamaguchi—one of only two non-Japanese to be recognized by Yamaguchi. Blasdel resides in Hawai‘i but performs and teaches around the world. He has released several CDs and published two major books and numerous articles on the shakuhachi and Japanese music. He has also help organized various world shakuhachi festival throughout the years. Presently, he is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa. He also holds a 5th degree black belt in Aikido.
