2025 World Shakuhachi Festival]
2025/5/1
The 8th World Shakuhachi Festival (WSF) was held from April 17th – April 20th at Texas A&M University in College Station and at other select locations throughout Texas. The WSF is a quadrennial celebration of the shakuhachi (a traditional Japanese flute), featuring performances, workshops, and academic discussions for practitioners and enthusiasts of all levels.
Consul General Naganuma attended the second day of the festival’s concert series on April 18th. Before the event, he greeted the performers, which included several of Japan’s top shakuhachi artists. While delivering his opening remarks, the Consul General thanked the WSF planning committee, Texas A&M University, the event sponsors and, of course, the musicians. He then spoke briefly about the shakuhachi’s history as an instrument of wandering monks, its role in defining Japan’s musical identity, and its growing inclusion in Western compositions.
In addition to the main concert series, the 2025 WSF offered outreach concerts in Dallas, Seattle, Houston, Denver, and Austin through April 27th , allowing many more audiences to experience this unique Japanese instrument and contributing greatly to Japan-Texas and Japan-U.S. cultural exchange. The Consulate General of Japan in Houston is deeply grateful to everyone involved with the celebration. The consulate will continue to make every effort to promote cultural exchange between Japan and Texas.
Consul General Naganuma attended the second day of the festival’s concert series on April 18th. Before the event, he greeted the performers, which included several of Japan’s top shakuhachi artists. While delivering his opening remarks, the Consul General thanked the WSF planning committee, Texas A&M University, the event sponsors and, of course, the musicians. He then spoke briefly about the shakuhachi’s history as an instrument of wandering monks, its role in defining Japan’s musical identity, and its growing inclusion in Western compositions.
In addition to the main concert series, the 2025 WSF offered outreach concerts in Dallas, Seattle, Houston, Denver, and Austin through April 27th , allowing many more audiences to experience this unique Japanese instrument and contributing greatly to Japan-Texas and Japan-U.S. cultural exchange. The Consulate General of Japan in Houston is deeply grateful to everyone involved with the celebration. The consulate will continue to make every effort to promote cultural exchange between Japan and Texas.