YAMADA Fumio

Hirosaki, Japan

 

YAMADA Fumio was born on May 17, 1959 in Fukui prefecture, Japan. He is a designated holder of Aomori Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Asset for Nezasa Ha Kinpū Ryū shakuhachi.

YAMADA graduated from the literature department at Tohoku University, and received a Ph. D. in the same subject from the Tohoku University Graduate School. Currently a professor at Hirosaki University. Dr. Yamada specializes in Chinese philosophy, and conducts research on Tang Dynasty Chinese Zen thought. He has also written many books on Chinese thought.

While a student at Tohoku University YAMADA began studying Kinpū Ryū shakuhachi. He arrived at Hirosaki University in 1988 and Professor SASAMORI Kenji of the Department of Education told him, that there are only two people who could play Kinpū Ryū shakuhachi in Hirosaki, and thefore the tradition will perish soon. YAMADA then started learning the Kinpū Ryū shakuhachi from MATSUOKA Shunjiro (1921 – 2008) who was a designated holder of Aomori Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Asset. In 2006, YAMADA became certified as a designated holder of Aomori Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural himself. Among his students is Nick BELLANDO.