article_title background birth_date instrument genre image origin name occupation
john kaizan neptune
 non_vocal_instrumentalist 13 november 1951 shakuhachi jazz , new-age , world john kaizan neptune.jpg oakland , california , united states john kaizan neptune musician
john kaizan neptune

john kaizan neptune -lrb- born november 13 , 1951 in oakland , california -rrb- is an american player and builder of the shakuhachi -lrb- japanese bamboo flute -rrb- .
he is known particularly for his use of the instrument in non-traditional contexts , such as jazz and cross-cultural music .
neptune studied ethnomusicology at the university of hawaii , where he began to study the shakuhachi with a japanese buddhist priest in 1971 .
in 1973 , he continued his shakuhachi studies in kyoto , japan , returning after one year to honolulu to complete a degree in ethnomusicology .
following his graduation , he traveled again to kyoto for several more years of intensive study , and in march 1977 he received the `` shi-han , '' or master 's certificate , in the tozan school of shakuhachi .
at that time he was awarded the honorary name `` kaizan , '' which means sea mountain .
he lives in japan .
neptune has performed in north america , europe , australia , and asia and recorded more than 20 albums with a variety of musicians .
as a non-japanese playing a japanese traditional instrument , neptune has attracted much interest from the japanese public .
his third recording , entitled `` bamboo '' , was named outstanding album of the year for 1980 by the cultural affairs agency of the japanese ministry of education , the first time a jazz recording or foreign artist had been so honored .
he also makes shakuhachi and other bamboo instruments at his home workshop in the japanese countryside .
john kaizan neptune has recorded 21 records since 1979
