Choichi Terukina

Choichi Terukina (Japanese: 照喜名朝一, Terukina Chōichi) is a well-known Ryukyuan classical musician and sanshin grandmaster.

Choichi Terukina
照喜名朝一
Born15 April 1932
Chinen, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture
CitizenshipJapanese
Years active1957-
OrganizationRyukyu Koten Afuso-ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai
Children1

Early life

Terukina was born in Okinawa on 15 April 1932. When he was 6 years old, he started playing the sanshin, an Okinawan three-stringed instrument.[1] At age 25, Terukina started formal sanshin lessons under Haruyuki Miyazato, a sanshin master.[2][3] Miyazato's lessons relied more on imitating the teacher's music rather than reading off of musical notes, which is an essential part of uta-sanshin, the style of playing that Terukina teaches.

Terukina has a son named Tomokuni, who also plays the sanshin.[4]

Career

In 1960, Terukina opened his first sanshin dojo, teaching students the Afuso Ryu style of uta-sanshin.[2] He has taught hundreds of students throughout his career as a sanshin grandmaster.[2] In 2000, Terukina was designated as a Living National Treasure of Japan for his mastery of Ryukyuan classical music (koten).[5]

He is the leader of the organization Ryukyu Koten Afuso-ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai, which has 1,300 members worldwide.[1][2]

Terukina played at Carnegie Hall in 2019. This was for his 88th lunar birthday, which is a special date in the Okinawan culture known as beiju.[6]

References
  1. "16th Annual Honolulu Festival – Special Interview". Honolulu Festival. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  2. "Choichi Terukina Sensei" (PDF). Hawaii United Okinawa Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 July 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  3. "Haruyuki Miyazato". rca.open.ed.jp. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  4. "Inheriting the tone of peace". Nihonmono. Archived from the original on 22 July 2021.
  5. "Japan's Living National Treasure Choichi Terukina brings Okinawa to America in "3 Strings" Concert, Mar 19, 7:00 pm – Japanese Art & Culture in LA". Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  6. "Okinawan National Treasure sings at legendary Carnegie Hall". Ryukyu Shimpo - Okinawa, a Japanese newspaper, local news. Retrieved 25 September 2020.


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