"Legendary shakuhachiperformer Goro Yamaguchi honored by the goverment as a livingnational treasure, died of acute heart failure at a Tokyo hospitalearly Sunday, his family said. He was 65. Yamaguchi, a professorat the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, studiedJapanese flute from age 11 under the tutelage of his father, shakuhachimaster Shiro Yamaguchi, whose school he eventually took over in1963.
The accuracy of his techniqueearned him wide praise at home and abroad. In 1971, Yamaguchiwas awarded Mobil's Music Award, just one of several he earnedover the course of his career. In 1992, the government designatedhim a living national treasure for his achievements in reproducingthe original spiritual and philosophical world of shakuhachi.
For his repute as a shakuhachiperformer, he received a 1994 award from the Japan Art Academy.Yamaguchi produced a classical compilation album in 1984 and manyother recordings. One of Yamaguchi's songs -- *Tsuru no Sugomori(Crane's Nest Lullaby*) -- was included on Voyager 2, a spaceprobe launched by the United States in 1977, as part of messagesfrom the people of Earth."
Yamaguchi Memorial Page ChristopherYohmei Blasdel's Tribute to Yamaguchi GoroTim Hoffman's Tributeto Yamaguchi Goro New York TimesObituary Photos of YamaguchiGoro at the World Shakuhachi Festival - July, 1998Yamaguchi Goro Bulletin Board on the WWW ShakuhachiResources Menu Tai Hei ShakuhachiHomepageMain Menu