Ji-Nashi & Ji-Ari

Jinashi  is a way of saying a (shakuhachi) made in its purest form. I like to believe crafting a shakuhachi in this way preserves its spirit.  The Jinashi style leaves the bamboo very close to nature. The result is a beautiful sounding meditative shakuhachi that is well balanced and carries a sound unique only to the Jinashi style. The sound of a Jinashi shakuhachi  is unmatched and its raw form can only be preserved with this method. (Original style used by monks)

Jiari is a (shakuhachi) that has had a few extra elements thrown into the mix. Like taking its spirit & adding water, fire, earth and air. A Jiari shakuhachi takes weeks of work, if not more, to bring to a point of completion. The result is a more responsive shakuhachi with a stronger overall tone. I try to approach this method with a wabi-sabi style that lends itself to the natural qualities of the bamboo. Only building upon what is already there in order to retain each piece of bamboo's own unique qualities.  (This is the accepted Japanese crafting style)