The European Shakuhachi Society is a pan-European non-profit association based is France and has at its remit to foster a community around the instrument, tradition and music of the shakuhachi. For this we aim to facilitate a space where players can meet across ryūha (schools) and physical borders, and where the various shakuhachi groups across Europe can come together, by staging a large summer event each year in a different country in Europe since 2006.

The summer gathering, or Summer School, evolved into one of the major events in the shakuhachi calendar with participants joining the summer workshops from many different countries in Europe and beyond. One reason that the event moves from country to country is to be able to reach out to players and shakuhachi communities in a wide range of countries and help them to establish and nurture their communities and shakuhachi players networks.

Besides our Summer School we organise a number of online workshops, events, and gatherings to bring together shakuhachi enthusiasts to learn, play and perform together. The ESS also publishes BAMBOO, its biannual PDF Newsletter, dedicated to all things related to the shakuhachi.

ESS membership is open to anyone, to shakuhachi players of all levels or playing style or to any Japanese cultural afficianado but one does not need membership to take part in ESS events, though members have discounted participation fees.

Learn more about the ESS and how to become a member.