Ji-mori Shakuhachi 1.8 in D Nobekan – Made by Chikudo – Grade ***
I made this shakuhachi in a very thick piece of Madake bamboo harvested in Kyushu in 2019. It has a rather square section. The natural bore of the bamboo was so thin that I could design precisely the bore with the mesures of a ji-ari; it only needed some ji added on the upper part close to the embouchure (which is the meaning of the name Ji-mori).
The result is a very good shakuhachi with volume, rich tone, perfect pitch and easy playing, all the characteristics of a good ji-ari but with more ‘bamboo’ feeling in the tone.
On the upper part, the bamboo had a light surface crack that I prevented with 3 bindings; it has anyway a lifetime warranty !
Shakuhachi Ji-mori
Japanese Madake – 1 piece
7 nodes
Length : 552mm
Diameter at utaguchi : int : 21.5mm ext : 33mm
Diameter at foot : int : 22mm ext : 51mm
Holes diameter : 10-11.5mm
Kinko deer horn inlay
Black urushi lacquer
3 bindings strengthened with urushi
