Goro Yamaguchi

Goro Yamaguchi is most probably the greatest Japanese shakuhachi player of the second half of the 20th century. He was recognized by the Japanese government for his artistic contributions and was designated "National Living Treasure" in 1992. He passed away on January 3, 1999, at age 65. Yamaguchi was born in 1933 to a musical family. His father was a famous shakuhachi performer and his mother a shamisen and koto player. His father taught him the Kinko style, one of the two major shakuhachi styles of the 20th century. During the postwar period, Yamaguchi quickly became one of ...