Yoshida Taizan
吉田 泰山
8/1/1893 - ????
Shakuhachi
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Yoshida Taizan (Yoshida Kenzō) was born in Tenjinbashisuji, Osaka on August 1, 1893. By all accounts he was a man of abundant musical talent, refined thought, and skillful mastery in both composition and performance, more than worthy of the title Chikurin-ken . He was weak at a young age and began to learn the shakuhachi as a tool to strengthen his breathing and body. He graduated from Okura Commercial School, and in February 1911, he became the pupil of Master Wada Toshō of the Tozan-ryū, where he was formally taught for the first time. As he studied, he developed an interest in the art and gradually demonstrated his natural musical ability. In the following year (1912), he mastered both the Shoden and Chuden levels. When Master Wada, for personal reasons, stopped teaching and retired in October 1912, Yoshida became a direct student of Sōke (headmaster) Tozan. In February 1914, he was given permission to begin teaching, and in July, he completed the Okuden rank. In March 1916, he earned his Kaiden certification, and in March 1917, he took the Jun-Shihan (associate instructor) examination, a major stepping-stone in the Tozan-ryū, He took the performance name Taizan, began teaching professionally, and further devoted himself to his studies. Following his promotion, he was a designated performer at several special concerts, including tours to Manchuria and Korea to promote the Tozan-ryū. He also famously organized the Kunibi-kai with Ōhashi Kōzan, Tomita Keizan, Ikeda Seizan I and others, and planned a regional tour and presented model concerts. In October 1921, he was promoted to Shihan (master), and, in June 1924, he accompanied Sōke Tozan on a concert tour of northern and southern Manchuria, contributing greatly to the expansion of the school there. In 1926, he was promoted to Dai-Shihan (Grand Master) and given the title Chikurin-ken. In recognition of his integrity and strength of character he was called to serve as an active member of the Tozan-ryū Council and was even elected as financial audit committee member in May 1920. He left a legacy of many highly-ranked students spread from Osaka to Korea.
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| Also Known As 吉田 建三 (Yoshida Kenzō) |
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Teachers Students
Kimura Kyūzan 1898 - ???? |