Holding of “The Great Wave” Opera spin-off event: The Profound Sound of the Shakuhachi
2026/2/20
On Friday 20th February, The Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, held 'The Profound Sound of the Shakuhachi,' a spin-off event of the new opera “The Great Wave”.
The event began with an explanation of the instrument and then performances of four shakuhachi pieces were given by the shakuhachi player Shozan Hasegawa, who is appearing in the new opera “The Great Wave”. During the Q&A session, various questions were asked, reflecting the high level of interest from the audience.
Participants commented that it was a wonderful experience to feel the vibrations of the shakuhachi up close. They noted that despite its structure having only five holes, it was able to play Western classical music like a flute, allowing them to truly appreciate the depth of its tone and the breadth of its potential.
It was a valuable opportunity to personally experience the profound depth of the shakuhachi, an instrument that is quite rare to witness in the area.
The event began with an explanation of the instrument and then performances of four shakuhachi pieces were given by the shakuhachi player Shozan Hasegawa, who is appearing in the new opera “The Great Wave”. During the Q&A session, various questions were asked, reflecting the high level of interest from the audience.
Participants commented that it was a wonderful experience to feel the vibrations of the shakuhachi up close. They noted that despite its structure having only five holes, it was able to play Western classical music like a flute, allowing them to truly appreciate the depth of its tone and the breadth of its potential.
It was a valuable opportunity to personally experience the profound depth of the shakuhachi, an instrument that is quite rare to witness in the area.