Why the Samurai Played Bamboo Flutes

The Shakuhachi is a traditional bamboo flute in Japan with 1,300 years of history. Today, many people play it as a musical instrument.
However, before Japan’s Westernization, it was only allowed to be used as a religious tool to train Zen. Monks called Komuso would travel around Japan playing the Shakuhachi to receive donations from the people.
But did you know that most of such monks were actually samurai? During the Edo period (1603~1868), the shogunate (samurai government) kept the samurai poor to prevent them from starting riots, and some even lived poorer lives than peasants. Komuso was a way to save such samurai, so they can hide their faces and receive help from the people. You might have an image that samurai were cool and strong, but in reality, many of them lived harsh lives.
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*The content is based on personal studies and experience
There is no intention of denying other theories and cultural aspects
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#shakuhachi #bambooflute #komuso

[@moonshineofthemoon8054]

Shogo should be a teacher about Japanese history.

[@Thehistoricguy7]

Actually he’s a really great master

[@AdamOwenBrowning]

He is!

[@dxfan18]

Before they could wear paper bags to hide their faces, they wore baskets

[@andrewklang809]

This is why I prefer to read about the lives of the merchant class in the Edo Period. They were at the bottom of the morality totem pole, but they had the money to enjoy the peace.

[@samuelanders7597]

I saw a documentary many years ago about how the rise of the samurai from mercenary to nobility really caused a lot of problems. This is another example and one i didn't know. Thank you Shogo 😊

[@natethesaint4662]

Yoooooo!!!! The thing from Ghost of Tsushima!!!!!

[@joshuaDstarks]

Have you spoken on samurai and flower arranging yet?

[@abysu]

these videos are so cool. thank you for sharing them!! theyre really informative and entertaining :)

[@madeleineg2049]

Thank you for the short. I found it really surprising. I guess there is still a lot I have never heard about.

[@guyblew1733]

I've wondered why in old Japanese samurai wore a basket over their and looked like poppers. Thanks for this bit of history.

[@FleckArthur9991]

Much respect for all of SAMURAIS 🙏🏼

[@robertcontignon]

Shakuhachi is a beautifully designed music instrument that produces beautiful sounds ! ☺🎶💙 It's interesting to discover this bamboo flute in the context of the samurai's life. 🙂 I realize that the iconic samurai weren't always the brave warriors that we see on movies, but they were people who also lived ordinary lives with harsh moments. 😯 I'm happy and grateful to see the true face of these famous Japanese characters. 😊🙏🏻

[@johnomarlarnelladams9735]

Thanks for the great video short 📹, Shogo itoko and it was informative!

[@yellow_fantom]

I saw how Ryoma plays bamboo flute in Baka Mitai from Like a Dragon: Ishin! and was wondering why flute and not other instrument? Now I know :)

[@alanchocobo1211]

I had a feeling he would say the legendary "During the Edo Period" line

[@tonyhines836]

I have always been in wonder by the Ninja. Since a young boy watching every Sho Kasugi movie I could. I have owned many weapons and stuff. I even bought every ninja magazine I could afford and was in bashido classes for 6 months. I know it was hidden samurai assassin very secret. Wish you you would add this to your teaching! Thanks again!

[@BIG-DIPPER-56]

THAT, is fantastically interesting ! ! One of those facts that are amazing, yet not readily known. THANKS ! ! ! 🙂😎👍

[@jonathanbartlett1098]

Thank you for pointing this out about the samurai being poor. Because of a lot of hyper-masculine modern mythology, the samurai are often regarded as superhuman indomitable warriors, but the truth is far different. They were human beings living in a complex society with rules that often subjected them to harsh and unfair conditions. I feel it is important to keep things in proper context and try to find the truth, no matter how unpleasant, rather than relying on a pleasant fiction

[@rachelgohlman3582]

No wonder so many shakuhachi pieces sound melancholy.

[@anonymousg.5432]

Japan is TOP!

[@feral_shade]

actually, a lot of my basic impression of samurai comes from Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. Whenever I think of them, I don't so much think of their role in politics or as generals/warriors. I usually think of what they did during times of peace. The application of Bushido towards the embetternent of society through things like repairing buildings or composing poetry. ... in my mind, that dedication is what really made samurai stand out in society. (my opinion is probably heavily biased though... having a fair amount of my life defined by military service... then suddenly, not)

[@zealfonso3987]

That's why a lot of anime portrays samurai as struggling to eat for the day, or at least mostly samurai of Edo

[@alexiosblake9804]

Say, the player besides you at the beginning, is that Kaminaga Daisuke from Wagakki Band by any chance?

[@BlackIronCollector]

I think they were even used as weapons, which is pretty cool to me, like imagine picking a fight with a random monk and he beats you with a flute

[@Spacelord4ever]

Now it means sense why law in one piece had that thing on his head in the wano arc

[@BrumEldar]

A great film where it reflects all of this , movie its called ame agaru (after the rain)

[@Shino_666]

"when power can make u lonely".. ^_^

[@gatocles99]

Because bamboo flutes are easier to make than wooden and metal flutes. or bone flutes. other areas of the world did not have bamboo, so they made their flutes of wood or metal or bone. That is why Samurai played bamboo flutes.

[@decKyo]

Sure samurai probably lived harsh lives but they were still cool

[@theawesomepie1266]

Lowkey wanna learn how to play this if I can

[@jackpatterson7110]

Isn't Kaminaga from Waggakiband? I love them :)

[@elmohead]

Yes

[@andrew15_5]

Shogo, your video's sound is a bit quiet. I'm no pro, but you should aim to hit almost 0 dB in video editor. Safer would be -5 - -3 dB. I checked, and the maximum gain should be +3 dB for this video because of some pick loud moments, but the majority of the timeline is much quieter (around -15 - -10 dB). Music from KZbin and other videos are noticeably louder than this one.

[@violet...a8575]

since kid i love anime, always see japanese monk that's makes me curious about dailylife of monk in Japan in real life

[@byhearingandhearingby]

🌸GRATITUDE 😌🙏🏽

[@TheCreedBratton]

sounds like today. criminals have money but honorable hard working people who protect others usually end up broke

[@aeternusthegoat]

the goat loves shogo, when i form my empire he will get immediate citizenship

[@elmohead]

Random wagakkiband appears!

[@gordonkrikava4922]

dude this is great I'm Japanese

[@kk-oh3nr]

Because they can :)))

[@Atercor-kx8hs]

Ngl, I was expecting something crazy like "Those were not flutes, bit hidden tantos so that samurai could protect himself even on a fine cultural events". Oh well. More of a sad story, honestly, but still very interesting.

[@KP_Uravity]

"why do samurai play bamboo flutes? Because it is fun amd they like it 😌"

[@xXGHOST_SAMURAIXx]

JIN SAKE from GHOST OF TUSIMA PLAYS THE BAMBO FLUTE

[@marcos1292]

Description in shorts is not visible, please give music link in comments

[@powerslave6944]

I remember I was a Komuso myself back then in my past. But while playing my flute on the side of a mountain one day I slipped falling down the chasm and died. And here I am today reborn as a nobody… 😏

[@pikobsaorawa1211]

RIP. just don't haunt me.

[@kennyxkazuki713]

Also shakuhachi could be used as weapons, it's a large wooden pole made out of an extremely dense bamboo, you could easily crack a person's skull with one -(source, I play shakuhachi)

[@JeidanAlmazar]

Can you make the first ever katana flute in the world im sub pls

[@kdefensemartialarts8097]

👍

[@buddylee6203]

No Cornelius boots shout out?

[@McLKeith]

I've always wondered why the straw hats that hid faces.

[@DeptalJexus]

much like Vietnam veterans, they live a harsh lives.

[@thedango6890]

Better to be a sell sword i always said, if you dont get paid, you can raid.

[@PainBin]

Interesting

[@LadyPelikan]

If really appreciate if you wrote the words you explain in kanji. I found on Wikipedia that it's 尺八 😊

[@ketan6969]

they were strong mentally cuz a man in those times with weak would've probably given up or killed himsef

[@1000Tomatoes]

Didn't they still have stipends though?

[@mattnobrega6621]

Domo shogo 😁🙏

[@shin-oni4223]

Wasn't that the flute player from Waggaki band

[@jackpatterson7110]

That's what I thought!

[@thevigilmain6628]

It’s always the Edo period I swear

[@AXL.]

This makes me wanna play Ghost of Tsushima AGAIN!

[@MysticMylesZ]

Oh Komuso huh, that looks familiar... so Ninja would disguise as these Komuso monks 🤔 interesting

[@TTMS-Khaz-kun]

I do recall hearing that samurai were poor to prevent riots, but worse lives than peasants? I would've thought theirs would've at least been a little higher than peasants. Like getting that little bit extra over what a peasant could afford, but dang..

[@runajain5773]

Well it depends how samurai have influence and power and position which they were in region

[@roof6592]

the “subscribe” at the end it’s so funny idk djdjdjdn it sounds like a little frog jdjdjdnd

[@ub-4630]

They did? First I've heard of it.

[@monalishadeka1541]

I love you so much ❤❤❤❤❤

[@boiwithnostacks4216]

of course its the edo period

[@Raahymms]

number 1

[@SSDS10]

They say this gets you pinned 1. Let's ask shogo 2. Let's ask shogo 3. Let's ask shogo If this Does doesn't get me pinned I will be very upset

[@aniranci]

Hello

[@eugeneoisten9409]

I'm going to go out on limb and say Samurai played flutes made from bamboo, was because a brass instrument was just showing off.........🫠 I'll exit stage left now😂