Album Notes

KOMUSO ALBUM CONCEPT:
In Tokugawa Era at the end of Edo Period (1600-1868), a boy was born on the Japanese southern island of Kyushu, in the town of Kagoshima. He was the last living member of a long-distinguished Samurai line. As he reaches maturity, he trains to develop his Bushido, the way of the warrior, the Samurai code of chivalry, and become a supreme Samurai, loyal to his most-honored Shogun. As the years pass, his Shogun dies and is replaced by the Shogun's son. Among the Samurai that serve, there is a uniform distrust and disdain for the new Shogun. All choose to leave the Shogunate, each one following a different path. As a Samurai, he had mastered not just the sword, but also the flute. He is filled with a great sense of art. He becomes a Komuso, choosing the path of Satori, the spiritual way of knowing everything and mastering the Zen theory of being of nothingness, a heightened sense of feeling and sensitivity that one develops in doing what comes naturally. For him, it is the artist's way.
One day as he sits by a riverbank, he makes his decision for a new direction, leaving behind the Shogun and the life of Samurai, forsaking everything but his flute and sword. On the road, day to day, city to city, he does not know what to expect as he travels. For the first time he sees nature in its true beauty and splendor. He faces the challenges of living life-sharing with people he encounters on the road, embracing the adventures that make up the chapters of his new life, playing his flute and sharing morality tales with them, bringing them joy and helping their lives.
Through Japan, China, India, Central Europe, Arabia, Africa he travels. As the years pass he begins to experience true inner peace. He finds the balance within himself and gains an international mind - and his true spiritual self. He knows now that the road he travels will never end because it is his life. He resigns as a Komuso to become a Buddhist priest and continues his journey throughout the world.