Almost every culture celebrates some kind of flute, but Japan’s traditional vertical flute, the shakuhachi, is in a class of its own. Made from the root piece of the madake bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides), it has only five holes and is capable of a full range of chromatic and microtonal pitches. The blowing edge consists of a small piece of water buffalo horn inserted into the bamboo mouthpiece and the bore is coated inside with several layers of Japanese urushi lacquer. In the hands of a master, this deceptively simple flute is capable of creating an astonishing wide range of timbres, techniques and tonal ornamentations.