Miura Ryuho Shakuhachi

Miura Ryuho was one of the most sought after and respected shakuhachi makers in Japan today. Many of the top professional shakuhachi musicians in Japan play his flutes including Teruo Furuya, Kaoru Kakizakai, Fujiwara Dozan and Nomura Seizan.  Spanning a 50 plus year career, he started shakuhachi making first learning from Yokoyama’s father, Yokoyama Ranpo, then went on to become the principal shakuhachi maker for Katsuya Yokoyama throughout his illustrious career. He then went on to discover his own unique and revolutionary techniques in shakuhachi making.

Miura-sensei passed away on Nov. 21, 2025 in Akita City, where he was born. He was my shakuhachi making teacher as well as my friend.

I was blessed to get to witness up close his immense mastery of his craft of shakuhachi construction; with an unparalleled attention to detail and intensity of focus that felt like a sun burning through a magnifying glass setting bamboo on fire. His love of tools and care in preparation of each step in the process of creating a great flute mesmerized me beyond belief and continues to inspire me to no end. He has brought joy to countless people through his magnificent flutes and those great shakuhachi musicians who have played his instruments lighting the world with his sound! I am forever grateful to have been his student, although I am ashamed to be a terrible one. I aspire to be connected as close to the finest creative force as he was. Dear Miura-sensei, may your Take no Michi continue to go deeper into beauty and inspire more beings in the universe!!!!!

Also, thank you deeply to his wife Shizuga Yoshiya Miura for taking such great care of him in his last years of life on this earth.

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