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Konishi Kunzan

小西 君山

Konishi Kunzan
8/10/1909 - ????

Shakuhachi & Maker

His father was the master shakuhachi maker Konishi Shunryū, as was his uncle in Tokyo, executive Konishi Shōzan, so Konishi Kunzan (Konishi Masaru) was born to be a shakuhachi player.
Kunzan’s father, Shunryū, was from Sanuki Kannonji, and his family had been involved in cypress woodworking for generations, but he eventually moved to Kobe and began making shakuhachi, and so, Kunzan was born in Kobe on August 10, 1909.
After graduating from elementary school in March 1924, he was trained as an uchi-deshi (live-in apprentice) under Tozan-ryū master Tomita Keizan in Osaka, and after completing his Chuden course in June 1925, he went to Tokyo and studied shakuhachi making under his uncle, Shōzan.
In January 1927, he completed the Okuden rank and, in August, he passed the Jun-Shihan (associate teacher) exam.
In December of 1923, he opened a bar in Kobe, which he and his large family ran for many years.
He and his friends organized the Reimei Orchestra, and were active in the field as members of the Kobe Executive Association, Kobe Sankyoku Kyōkai, Keiyū-kai, and other organizations.
When he had free time, he enjoyed sports and traveling.

Also Known As 小西 勝 (Konishi Masaru)
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