A Collection of Moving Shakuhachi Masterpieces | Beautiful Japanese Melodies That Stir the Heart

Transcending the ages, the profound melodies of the Japanese traditional instrument, the shakuhachi, bring quiet and peace to our hearts.

The shakuhachi pieces passed down through the generations carry the breath of nature and people’s emotions, and their tones move those of us living in the present day as well.

In this article, we have gathered shakuhachi masterpieces that resonate with the soul.

From works woven by our predecessors to pieces that harmonize classical sonorities with contemporary essence, we have selected a wide range.

If you wish to experience the spirit of Wa or are interested in Japanese traditional music, please take your time and enjoy.

Playlist

A Collection of Moving Shakuhachi Masterpieces \| Beautiful Japanese Melodies That Stir the Heart
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	mindfulness of breathingShakuhachi koten honkyoku		The deep spirituality of the shakuhachi and its soundscape of silence
2	The Path of the WindHisaishi Joe		The allure of The Path of the Wind played on the shakuhachi
3	The Legend of AshitakaHisaishi Joe		Joe Hisaishi’s music expresses nature and humanity.
4	A and BYamamoto Hōzan		Kohzan Yamamoto’s Shakuhachi Solo: The Resonance of Bamboo and Spirituality
5	Distant sound of deerShakuhachi koten honkyoku		Honkyoku for the shakuhachi are performed by multiple schools.
6	Documentary film “Shakuhachi: One Voice, One Lifetime” main themekinohachi		An inspiring theme song that resonates with the soul of the shakuhachi
7	Tozan-ryu honkyoku ‘Momiji’ (Autumn Leaves)Sho-sei Nakao Tozan		A renowned shakuhachi duet portraying autumn in Kyoto
8	offering (to a deity or the deceased); tributeShakuhachi koten honkyoku		The sound of the shakuhachi cleanses the heart, immersing one in silence.
9	Koto and Shakuhachi Duet “Ichikotsu”Yamamoto Hōzan		Living National Treasure Yamamoto Hōzan: The Beauty of Traditional Music
10	Tozan-ryu Honkyoku ‘Kogarashi’Shodai Nakao Tozan		Tozan-ryu honkyoku, likening the Great Kanto Earthquake to a wintry gale (kogarashi)
11	Tozan-ryu Original Piece “Yachiyo”Shodai Nakao Tozan		A celebratory dialogue of two shakuhachi and a fusion of Japanese and Western styles
12	Song of the PloversYoshizawa Kengyō		Depicting the scene of waves and the chirping of plovers
13	Shakuhachi Duet: BambooYamamoto Hōzan		Shakuhachi works by Yamamoto Hōzan expressing the vitality of bamboo
14	Poem No. 2Matsumura Teizō		A work in which the shakuhachi’s serenity and power stir the heart
15	November Steps, Tenth SectionTakemitsu Tōru		Toru Takemitsu’s Music: The Beauty and Spirituality of the Shakuhachi
16	Song of the TravelerFukuda Randō		The melancholic, homesick melody of the shakuhachi resonates in the heart.
17	bonfireNomura Shoho		Masamine Nomura’s ethereal koto piece, A Prayer for the Future
18	Song of the Hu JiaNomura Shoho		Moving music woven by the shakuhachi and koto
19	Crane’s NestingShakuhachi koten honkyoku		The story of “Tsuru” (The Crane), a representative masterpiece for the shakuhachi
20	Singing Dragon in the VoidShakuhachi koten honkyoku		Origin of the Kinko-ryu shakuhachi piece 'Ginryu Kokū'
21	Banshikichō / Shinkore		A difficult Kinko-ryu honkyoku piece for an 1.8 shaku flute.
22	descending leaves		Traditional pieces of shakuhachi classical honkyoku
23	Yobi-dake, uke-dake		Shakuhachi Etiquette and Communication Methods
24	Akita Sugagaki		Kinko-ryu honkyoku of Akita folk songs
25	Echigo Mitani		Shakuhachi Sanya handed down at Myoanji Temple in Echigo
26	Anvil Nest Cage		Shakuhachi Honkyoku 'Kinutá', Kinko-ryū ura suite
27	The Mind Unattached (Song)		A striking piece composed by Ru Dao-Sheng during his visit to Shanghai
28	Purple Bell Method		A shakuhachi piece by Ikkyu Sojun, simple and cheerful.
29	Reverie on Reeds and Bells		Transmission of Kinko-ryū Honkyoku and Ashi-kusa Reibo
30	Kirikai Reimou		Legendary piece 'Koku' from the classical shakuhachi honkyoku repertoire
31	Akebono-style		Shakuhachi in the Akebono mode, traditional music of the mid-Edo period
32	Hifumi Hachi Gaeshi Mode		A Kinko-ryu prelude piece composed in the low register
33	Hoteiken Mitani		Transmission of the shakuhachi classical piece, San’ya no Kyoku
34	Uchigae Kyorei		Kinko-ryu Shakuhachi Classical Honkyoku: Kyo-Rei
35	Pine and Rock Hermitage Bell Lament		Musical tradition of Shakuhachi classical honkyoku: the Oshu school’s Reibo
36	Nagashi Rinbo		The Konesa school’s shakuhachi honkyoku, with a tone suffused with sorrow
37	Kinsan Kyorei		Traditional music of the Kinko school of shakuhachi
38	Meguro Lion		Legends of Lion Dances and the History of the Kinko School
39	Rinbo-ryu		A traditional shakuhachi piece. There is a tragic lovers’ double suicide in its legend.
40	Kumoi Shishi		Shakuhachi ‘Kumoi-jishi’ is a traditional piece of the Kinko-ryu school.
41	The Song of the Sound Pillar		Kinko-ryu's Kinu no Sugomori Mae-buki piece
42	Moon over the Peak		One of the Tozan-ryu honkyoku pieces: the scenery of a mountain peak and the moon.
43	Melancholic mode		Shakuhachi honkyoku for praying for victory in the Russo-Japanese War
44	Phoenix General Chick		A classic honkyoku piece for shakuhachi, a famous composition of the Kinko-ryū school
45	Song of Azuma		Shishi-mono shakuhachi honkyoku, Azuma regional tradition