A Gakuso and Chikuzenbiwa Moment (by Octopus)

The Gakuso and Chikuzenbiwa are classical Japanese stringed instruments that had been in my family for two generations. Recently, I donated my collection to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Flori-DUH. Having moved an average of once every two years since I acquired these instruments, I decided to give them a permanent home where they will be restored, maintained, and perhaps even played once again by a visiting Japanese master.

Both instruments are old and delicate. The Koto (Gakuso), with its ivory and tortoise shell inlay, originated in late 1800s; and the Biwa (Chikuzenbiwa), with its rare and precious silkscreen representation of a dragon, is vintage 1600s:

Koto (aka Gakuso)

Biwa (aka Chikunzenbiwa)

Here is what the Koto sounds like:





And here is what the Biwa sounds like:





The Morikami is located at 4000 Morikami Park Road , Delray Beach, Fl 33446, (telephone 561-495-0233). If you visit the museum, please be sure to look up our esteemed Captain Fogg. If you ask him nicely, he may even take you by boat to visit me far beyond the Gulf Stream.