Monotone Rare 7-Hole Shinobue (Shinobue Flute) Made by Master Flute Maker Yujiro Koike, Director of Shinonokai

This is a listing for a 1-cho (D440Hz) shinobue made from carefully selected bamboo, without any joints. The node section, which is prone to damage, has been reinforced. We plan to list other tunings as they become available.

All of our listings are genuine, professional-quality shinobue that are also very easy to play for beginners, making them ideal for improving your skills.

Below is an introduction to the maker and the flutes.
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These are the posthumous works of the late Yujiro Koike, a shinobue craftsman who studied under Master Hyakunosuke Fukuhara and later became a Living National Treasure, Saemon Takayama. It is said that his master was so impressed with Koike's flutes that he cherished them. Several of these flutes, which were awaiting delivery and had not yet been presented, were discovered in perfect condition. It is the wish of those involved that these flutes, with their valuable craftsmanship and sound, reach the hands of someone who can appreciate them.

Using his unique techniques, Mr. Koike achieved not only the pentatonic scale with normal playing but also Western scales through techniques like meri and kari. This allows for sessions with Western instruments. Furthermore, the beautifully balanced holes, meticulously calculated, have resulted in what can be called works of art – meticulously crafted, supreme creations.

The shape of the holes significantly impacts ease of playing, finger coverage, and sound quality. Those familiar with Mr. Koike's flutes would reportedly visit frequently, unable to wait for their completion.

We will carefully select and list flutes that have been inspected for their sound, appearance, and absence of cracks. Due to the delicate nature of these items, we kindly ask for your understanding that returns cannot be accepted. All flutes are made from the highest quality, carefully selected bamboo.

Although some details regarding his techniques are unknown due to his passing, we have meticulously selected only those items marked as his own work and of the highest quality, and their sound has been confirmed.

To share the beautiful sound with as many people as possible, we have decided to list them on Mercari. We may be unfamiliar with some aspects of this platform, but we will respond with sincerity.

This is an opportunity for both those who know of his work and those who do not, to acquire a shinobue with a beautiful tone, appearance, and most importantly, ease of play. While we have a small stock, these are posthumous works and are therefore limited in number. Please consider purchasing them while they are available.

During his lifetime, a special exhibition was held at the Numazu Imperial Villa to celebrate the birth of His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino. The exhibition featured Urayasu no Mai and Gagaku Performance and The World of Yujiro Koike's Shinobue, where he presented his own shinobue performance.

It has been 13 years since his passing, and his website has been closed. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and we will do our best to confirm and respond within our knowledge.