On September 17, the Shakuhachi concert "Relaxing Universe" was held by the Americans immigrated to Aomori at the "Hibanokuni Guest House" in Owani, Aomori (Owani-cho, Minamitsugaru-gun).

It was planned by Fumio Yamada, a professor of the Faculty of Education, Hirosaki University, a Nezasa school kinpaku style shakuhachi art holder, and Nick Belland, who was born in New Jersey, USA and moved to Owani last year. The same event.

Nick says he studied shakuhachi with Mr. Yamada, and studied shakuhachi pipe manufacturing under Mr. Ryuune Miura, a pipe maker in Akita.

Nick says, "Shakuhachi is not a musical instrument. It is a tool that looks at you and can express you." At the venue, "Shakuhachi performances are fun for players, but those who are listening are hard to understand and not fun." I invited the visitors to laugh.

On this day, Mr. Yamada introduced that Nishiki style is a shakuhachi school played by the samurai of the Hirosaki clan, and there are currently only two players. Nick talked about his encounter with shakuhachi and how he moved to Owani. In the latter half of the concert, there was also an act of chorusing "Ringo Oiwake" with about 60 people gathered at the venue.

At the end of the concert, Nick smiles, saying, "I have often been saved by the shakuhachi, and I'm always grateful to get to know him through the shakuhachi." Mr. Yamada says, "For me, the shakuhachi is a tool for physical and mental health. I want to enjoy it with people who are interested."