_How to Care for
your Sahkuhachi
These suggestions are for the Bamboo Shakuhachi. If you own a plastic or wood shakuhachi just keep it clean,
The bore of all shakuhachi should be cleaned after each playing session. This is done by running a cleaning cloth
( tsuyutoshi) through the bore after each playing session.Make sure to cover the blowing edge with your finger to prevent damage.
Bamboo is a woody grass. In the ground it is loaded with water. After harvest it is dried to reduce moisture content., As a Shakuhachi the bamboo is still, in a sense, a living material; it will exchange moisture with the environment in which it finds itself. If the exchange of moisture is too rapid or too extreme the bamboo may crack. This is true of any wood., Some simple precautions can prevent or reduce the chance of this happening.
1. Never expose the Shakuhachi to extremes of heat or cold. Air conditioning sucks moisture from the air, so does dry winter heating and dry climes. In these conditions store your Shakuhachi in a plastic bag with a moist dampit or moist paper towel. This will help keep things in relative balance.
2. Frequent light oiling of the exterior (not the inside bore) will help prevent rapid moisture exchange. Good oils are Walnut Oil, Camelia Oil and Pure Tung Oil (this must be 100% Pure, NOT "TUNG OIL FINISH". Read the contents). A few drops are all that's needed. Rub this in, let stand for 5 minutes and remove excess with a clean cloth. Simple and effective.
Play your Shakuhachi often. The natural oils from your hands and moisture from your breath go a long way toward protecting the bamboo. Try to play everyday; not only is it good for the bamboo, it is good for you.
These suggestions are for the Bamboo Shakuhachi. If you own a plastic or wood shakuhachi just keep it clean,
The bore of all shakuhachi should be cleaned after each playing session. This is done by running a cleaning cloth
( tsuyutoshi) through the bore after each playing session.Make sure to cover the blowing edge with your finger to prevent damage.
Bamboo is a woody grass. In the ground it is loaded with water. After harvest it is dried to reduce moisture content., As a Shakuhachi the bamboo is still, in a sense, a living material; it will exchange moisture with the environment in which it finds itself. If the exchange of moisture is too rapid or too extreme the bamboo may crack. This is true of any wood., Some simple precautions can prevent or reduce the chance of this happening.
1. Never expose the Shakuhachi to extremes of heat or cold. Air conditioning sucks moisture from the air, so does dry winter heating and dry climes. In these conditions store your Shakuhachi in a plastic bag with a moist dampit or moist paper towel. This will help keep things in relative balance.
2. Frequent light oiling of the exterior (not the inside bore) will help prevent rapid moisture exchange. Good oils are Walnut Oil, Camelia Oil and Pure Tung Oil (this must be 100% Pure, NOT "TUNG OIL FINISH". Read the contents). A few drops are all that's needed. Rub this in, let stand for 5 minutes and remove excess with a clean cloth. Simple and effective.
Play your Shakuhachi often. The natural oils from your hands and moisture from your breath go a long way toward protecting the bamboo. Try to play everyday; not only is it good for the bamboo, it is good for you.