Profile
Profile
Gunnar Jinmei Linder (リンデル 儘盟)
Kinko-ryū Shakuhachi Shihan
MA in Kinko-ryū shakuhachi (Tokyo Geidai)
PhD in Japanology (Stockholm University)

Gunnar began to study the shakuhachi after having arrived in Japan in 1985. He was after a short period of time introduced to the master Yamaguchi Gorō (1933–99), the youngest ever designated living national treasure. Yamaguchi-sensei was head of the still active Chikumeisha guild of Kinko-ryū Shakuhachi, the oldest of the existing lineages of shakuhachi.
In 1993 Gunnar received the Japanese Monbukagakushō Scholarship, to study shakuhachi as soloist, at the traditional music conservatoire at Tokyo National University of the Arts (Tokyo Geidai). After two years of studies, Gunnar passed the entrance exam to the Master's program, and finished with an MA degree as shakuhachi soloist in 1997, the second non-Japanese to do so. Gunnar received his traditional license, shihan, and the name Jinmei (儘盟) from Yamaguchi Gorō in the summer of 1998, immediately after the first International Shakuhachi Festival to be held outside of Japan, in Boulder CO, USA. Very sadly, Yamaguchi Gorō passed away only months after that.
From 1997 to 2005 Gunnar was professionally active as performer and teacher of shakuhachi in Japan, but also teaching and performing in Europe and the US.
In 2005, after some 20 years of activities in Japan, Gunnar moved to Europe. He is now actively performing and teaching both privately and through regular workshops in Stockholm, Helsinki, and Paris, as well as other shakuhachi events. He is working as Associate Professor at the Department of Asian Studies, Stockholm University, conducting research in the traditional (or pre- to early modern) genres of Japanese music. Presently he is studying the structure of some Edo-period music genres, as well as the song texts of the chamber music of the 18th and 19th centuries Japan (so-called jiuta-sōkyoku or sankyoku). Gunnar is also occasionally teaching shakuhachi at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm (KMH)).
In 2016 Gunnar was awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for outstanding achievements in international fields, and for the promotion of Japanese culture, teaching Japanese language, culture, and history, as well as a wide array of outreach activities, and the teaching and performing of shakuhachi in Europe.
Executive Positions
Chikujinkai and the Scandinavian Branch of Chikumeisha | 竹儘会主宰・竹盟社北欧支部長 |
Chikumeisha Council | 竹盟社評議員 |
Advisory member of the ESS Executive Committee | 欧州尺八協会顧問 |
Memberships
Kinko-ryū Kyōkai (Kinko-ryū Shakuhachi Association) | 琴古流協会会員 |
Nihon Sankyoku Kyōkai (Japan Sankyoku Association) | (公益社団法人) 日本三曲協会会員 |
Komusō Kenkyūkai (Komusō Research Society) | 虚無僧研究会会員 |
Year | Event | Remarks |
---|---|---|
1985 | Began studying shakuhachi under the guidance of Yamaguchi Gorō. | 1933–99 |
1993 | Entered Tokyo University of the Arts. | |
1995 | Performing "Shizue" (comp. J. Swensen) with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra (World Premiere). | |
1996 | Performing "Shizue" with Lahti City Symphony Orchestra. | |
1997 | Graduated with an MA in shakuhachi as performing art. | |
Performing "Shizue" with the Royal Scottish Chamber Orchestra. | ||
1998 | Received his shihan Master License, and the name Jinmei. | |
Executive committee of the World Shakuhachi Festival at Boulder. | ||
Recording and performance at the Swedish Radio. | ||
1999 | Released an English language instruction video of Kinko-ryū shakuhachi honkyoku. | |
2000 | Released his first album “WA – Dream Picture”. | See Recordings |
2001 | Released his second album “WA – Ginyū”. | See Recordings |
First European Tour. | ||
2002 | Recorded his third album “WA – Kinko Kokin”. | |
2003 | Second European Tour, including performances at London City University and Stockholm University. | |
Recorded the honkyoku album “Taki-otoshi”. | ||
2004 | Invited to the Bisei International Shakuhachi Festival. | |
2006 | Invited performer to the first European (ESS) Shakuhachi Summer School in London. Unable to attend for medical reasons. | |
2007 | Invited performer to the second ESS Shakuhachi Summer School in France. Unable to attend for private reasons. | |
2008 | Invited performer to the World Shakuhachi Festival in Sydney. | |
2009 | Invited performer to the ESS Shakuhachi Summer School in Leiden, Holland. | |
2010 | Invited performer to the ESS Shakuhachi Summer School in Prague. | |
2011 | Published the book Notes on Kinko-ryū Shakuhachi Honkyoku — Performance Techniques: Analysis, Classification, Explanation. | See Writings |
Invited performer to the Prague Shakuhachi Festival. | ||
2012 | Published the PhD dissertation Deconstructing Tradition in Japanese Music: A Study of Shakuhachi, Historical Authenticity and Transmission of Tradition. | See Writings |
Associate Professor in Japanese Studies at Stockholm University. | ||
Invited performer to the Prague Shakuhachi Festival. | ||
Associate Professor in Shakuhachi at the Royal College of Music. | ||
2013 | Invited performer to the ESS Shakuhachi Summer School in Barcelona. | |
Invited performer to the Prague Shakuhachi Festival. | ||
2014 | Invited performer to the ESS Shakuhachi Summer School in Radolfzell. | |
Invited performer to the Prague Shakuhachi Festival. | ||
Performing Joseph Swensen's "Shizue" with Oporto Symphony Orchestra. Recording.. Interview with the composer Joseph Swensen. | ||
2015 | Invited performer to the ESS Shakuhachi Summer School in Paris. | |
Invited performer to the Prague Shakuhachi Festival. | ||
2016 | Invited performer to the International Shakuhachi Festival in Prague. | |
Invited performer to the ESS Shakuhachi Summer School in Barcelona. | ||
Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for outstanding achievements in international fields. | ||
2017 | Performing Joseph Swensen's "Shizue" with the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, Wroclaw, Poland. | |
Invited performer to the ESS Shakuhachi Summer School in Vejle, Denmark. | ||
Invited performer to the International Shakuhachi Festival in Prague. | ||
Invited performer to the Pacific Shakuhachi Festival in Honolulu. | ||
2018 | Invited performer to the World Shakuhachi Festival in London. | |
2019 | Invited performer to the KSK 30th Anniversary in Bisei, Japan. | |
Hungary Tour with Fujimoto Akiko |
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