Uemura Shōzan
植村 章山
3/1/1895 - ????
Shakuhachi
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Grand Master Uemura Shōzan (Uemura Akira) was born March 1, 1895 in Nagoya to a family that ran a construction contracting business. Early on, the family moved to Mikage, in Hyōgo Prefecture. Not long after that, the young Uemura discovered an obsession with music, deciding to devote his life to musical pursuits. Upon graduating from Osaka Commercial School in March 1913, he worked for a company in the Hanshin area for 12 years, and later ran a musical instrument store in Mikage, but also became a shakuhachi teacher entirely dedicated to the Tozan style. His first shakuhachi teacher was Tozan-ryū master Koike Reizan I (then still called Torei) and, within a month, he had completed the Shoden rank. For a time, Koike-sensei was called away to Nagoya on business so, in January of 1914, Uemura was given the unique opportunity to study under the founder of the Tozan-ryū, Nakao Tozan. By that April he had completed his Chūden studies. When Koike-sensei returned to Osaka, Uemura resumed his studies with him. He obtained his initial instructor’s license in February of 1916, changing his performance name to Reishō. In April he finished the Okuden repertoire, and in December he earned his Kaiden license. His skill improved, and in March, 1918 he passed the Jun-Shihan (assistant instructor) exam with excellent results, changing his name for the final time to Shōzan. In the next few years he gained both recognition and influence in the Hanshin area with his vibrant style and quick intelligence, appearing in special Tozan-ryū concerts, and serving as a Tozan-ryū examination committee member, among other achievements. In October he was promoted to master and, soon after that, he traveled to Korea and worked to train students and promote the Tozan-ryū wherever he could. He eventually made Osaka his home base, where he helped establish a modern music movement as a Tozan-ryū master. In February, 1931, he was given the rank of Dai-Shihan (grand master) and received the title Chikurinken. He was well versed in all styles of Japanese music, and was particularly adept at Nagauta and playing the shamisen.
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| Also Known As 植村 章 (Uemura Akira) |
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Teachers Students
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Tracks Recorded
| Pieces | Kanji | Length | Album | Instrument | |
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| Kōjō no Tsuki | 荒城の月 | 09'40 | Tozan Ryu - Shakuhachi Honkyoku | Shakuhachi |