To Japanese Shinto practitioners, music is an essential part of rituals and festivals known as matsuri. 🇯🇵 Among the instruments used in these ceremonies are shinobue flutes like this one. This exquisite example was crafted by the third-generation maker of the court-associated Shinryu flute maker lineage. The flute’s elegant maki-e lacquer reflects the instrument’s refinement and the cultural sophistication of its original owner. Our friend and local Japanese music expert Ken Koshio joined us