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Note:
Kitaro.us was created as a compliment to www.kitaromusic.com listing the musician Kitaro’s
complete discography and videos.
Kitaro Profile
Who is Kitaro?
Composer/producer Kitaro, winner of a Golden Globe Award (OST for the
movie Heaven and Earth) and 43rd Grammy Award for Thinking of You, is
also the recipient of multiple Grammy Award nominations. He is revered
for his ability to embody the human spirit with music of passion and
drama. During his 30-year career, Kitaro has released scores of albums,
selling several million albums in the United States alone. Kitaro is
especially known and recognized for his blending of the finest of Eastern
and Western cultures and traditions in his music.
Kitaro.us was
conceived and produced for the sole purpose of covering Kitaro’s mission in honoring the founder of Japanese Buddhism.
Kitaro’s stated plan is to produce one album per year over the
next ten years. Each album will consist of 8-10 tracks containing a total
of 88 sacred bells.
Sacred
Journey of Ku-kai Volume 1 is Kitaro's first album in a new series
of conceptual music. It was released in September 2003. After the horrific
events of September 11, 2001, this album was dedicated to the Sacred
Journey of Ku-kai. The album is directed towards worldwide spiritual
inspirational and enlightenment.
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interview, from the Japanese Asahi Shinbun-Evening Addition Newspaper
(the entertainment section), on October 26, 2003,
As
Kitaro’s says,
“ This will be my life’s work
from now on….”
Kitaro
said, “I was returning back home to Colorado, from Japan,
when New York was struck. Without any explanation, our flight
was diverted to an emergency landing in Hawaii. In the hotel,
I was shocked when I saw the disaster on television.” For
his five-days of confinement in Hawaii, he had been questioning
himself in regard to what he could do? It occurred to him he
had produced the music for NHK’s (Japanese television)
special Shikoku 88 Places. Then Kitaro said, “The sound
of bells affects the home of the human mind and peace… so
how about putting my music there?”
Three
months later, Kitaro begin concentrating his energy as he set-up
eight microphones around each one of these bells, in the midst
of metropolitan noise. He recorded the sounds of these bells
from December 2001 through March 2002, daily from midnight to
2:00 AM. Kitaro began recording, absorbing, and extracting the
purest sounds of these sacred bells. One bell took him two days
to obtain one pure sound. By March 2003, at Joruji Temple, he
had now reached forty-six bells.As
Kitaro continues his Sacred Journey to Matsuyama, he said, “ Now
this is my challenge. The music is based on my very first impression,
or energy, of this temple.” At this site, as with many
other sacred places, Kitaro also incorporated the natural sounds
of nearby chirping birds. Personal Commentary: It should be noted
at this time that Kitaro has consistently interwoven the sound
of nature within his signature sounds of birds, ocean, and wind
as heard on his album Tenku. Or listen to a male mouse calling
for his mate as heard in his 43rd Grammy Award winning album
Thinking of You, along with pebbles skipping across his frozen
Gold Lake at his home/studio at 9200 feet in Colorado.
The
Razaji Temple (translated as My Spirit Temple) in Tukushima Perfecture,
was Kitaro’s first stop along his sacred journey. His second
pause encountered the Yakusoji (burning mountain) Temple at Kamisano
or God’s mountain.
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| Kitaro
states, “His wish will be to elevate the conflicts
of this confused world environment utilizing the deceased spirits.” He
feels if his effort only helps to resolve one world conflict,
he has been successful.
Personal
Commentary: In previous interviews, Kitaro has acknowledged that
his purpose is to calm the inner person. “The wars in the
world don’t come from outer space,” he says. “People
create them, people who have a war within themselves, I want
to create music that eases that war within.”
From
next year (2004) and on, Kitaro plans to hold charity concerts
and from that profit his desire will be to make a “bell
of peace” and leave one in each of the five continents.
Beginning
in December 2003 the 47th bell from Hachisakaji, located in Matsuyama
city, Kitaro will again begin recording the sounds from these
sacred bells.
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Ku-kai History
With the given name of Ku-kai, he was born in the Sanuki Province in
774 A.D. It appears Kitaro has blended a Japanese kanji and a Chinese
character for ‘Ku’ to have a double meaning for ‘ku’ as ‘Sky’ while ‘kai’ translates
to ocean.
After returning from China in 805 A.D., Ku-kai opened a level of mysterious
essence in the tradition of Buddhism. He later initiated the Buddhist
mission at Mt. Koya in 816 A.D., three thousand feet above sea level
for the salvation of mankind. After taking this unsurpassed mission for
thirty years, he went into eternal samadhi (meditation) in 835 A.D.,
at the present site of Okunion. Ku-kai was 62 years old.
Ku-kai’s
memory lives all over Japan. Even today, his name Daishi is a household
word in remote places, not only as a saint, but a scholar,
a savoir, a Bodhisattva, an inventor of the Japanese alphabet kana syllabify
system, a nationwide pilgrim, a spiritual healer, a calligrapher, and
the founder of Japanese Buddhism and the public school. More than ten
million followers believe that Daishi is still alive in this world and
saving them through this time in history.
My personal encounter to the world of Kobo Diashi came to me while I
was vacationing in Japan in December 1995. I had selected the Kansai
Region for its history. Also the area seemed to be the foundation of
1000 years of Japanese spirituality. After visiting the ancient capitals
of Kyoto and Nara, I made my way up Mt. Koya via train, tram and bus
to Koyasan. When I arrived I was soon to discover there were no Western
hotels or other accommodations except for fifty-three Buddhist temples.
I selected a 450 year-old temple for the night. The following day I explored
the graveyard area and discovered the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, the founder
of Koyasan 1150 years ago.
After
my return from Japan, I made my first connection to Kitaro’s
music. Subsequently, in the summer of 1998, I began introducing his heavenly
music to tourists visiting my store. I also began assimilating notes
on my experiences and the profound positive affects Kitaro’s music
was having on their lives. My tourist store appeared to become a magical
meeting place for all who entered.
Personal
Commentary: In the late summer of 2002, I had published my book Spirit
House-The
Compass of Connections. Kitaro’s endorsement
to my book follows:
Spirit House-The Compass of Connections
by Charles E. Guffey
From the foreword:
You
may use this link to purchase your personalized copy of Spirit House.
| Kitaro
Music | Kitaro US | Kitaro
Mind | Kitaro
Records | Kitaro
Connection | Tenku | Tamayura | Tunhuang | |
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"I I Kitaro give thanks for meeting with
many people. I entered the music world thinking it was cool. It has been
26 or 27 years I don't exactly remember when, since I started to deal seriously
with sound. I knew nothing back then, but now I know I have learned to be
able to express myself a little through music. I have met a lot of people,
and they have taught me things about music and other things. I hope my music
can contribute to this world even a little bit in this 21st century. Thank
you! Thank you! With palms joined together in prayer." Kitaro Kitaro
Music was created solely at the request of Kitaro's many worldwide fans,
enthusiasts, and newcomers alike that frequented my tourist store over the
years in the heart of Old Town San Diego, California. Not only did they purchase
thousands of his albums and videos, but they would make their appeal that
his complete works should be made available to a wider worldwide audience
due to the fragmented supplies that typically exists in retail stores, or
is offered on e-commerce. I had already researched Kitaro and found his music
labeled, mislabeled, available in out of the way places, where housed in music
stores, lost in space, categorized and defined by the media and molded to
conveniently fit a shaped form leaving the fan or follower to fend for themselves
for the Scope of Kitaro's work. They had also requested a worldwide concert
itinerary. MAGICAL MEETING PLACE The World
Came to me, I greeted the World And the World allowed me to feel its pulse
Liken to a manifestation of fluttering butterflies, Some would land and linger
To be caressed in their full beauty And then released Unharmed to continue
their Sacred Journey. Our purpose fulfilled & for now. Charles E. Guffey
1998 Who is Kitaro? Composer Kitaro, winner of a Golden Globe Award
(OST for the movie Heaven and Earth) and 43rd Grammy Award for Thinking of
You and recipient of multiple Grammy Award nominations, is revered for his
ability to embody the human spirit with music of passion and drama. He has
released scores of albums and sold millions in the U.S. alone during his
30-year career. Kitaro continues to merge the finest of Eastern and Western
cultures and traditions in his music. On 15 March 2002, in Los Angels, Ca.,
Grammy and Golden Award Winning recording artist, Kitaro was awarded the
Japan America Society's "Art Without Borders" award at the organizations
93rd Annual Dinner and Gala Celebration. The
Japan America Society's Art Without Borders award recognizes individuals
whose unique vision transcends national and cultural borders, and whose work
brings us closer together in a shared experience that enhances our humanity
and mutual appreciation. Kitaro's immediate popularity
was in large part a result of NHK special program "The Silk Road," which was broadcast
in 1980. In 1987 he released the album, "The Light of the Spirit," for the
enjoyment of a worldwide audience, subsequently embarking on a highly successful
tour of 25 U.S. cities - a first by a Japanese artist. Kitaro is also noted
for having won the Japan Record of the Year Special Award the same year.
He has five Grammy nominations to his credit, thus demonstrating his popularity
in the U.S. Kitaro served as music director for the 1993 film production "Heaven
and earth," directed by Oliver Stone, and was honored Composer's Award for
his achievement at the 51st Golden Globe Awards. And in 2000 he was designated
an international environmental artist by the Global Legislators Organization
for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE). This year, 2002, he also provided music
for NHK special "Four Great Civilizations" and resumed full-scale activities
in Japan amid concert tours of Asia and America. All songs are written, arranged
and performed by Kitaro, and produced by Kitaro. Here are a sampling of the
modern, contemporary and ancient instruments Kitaro plays: Korg Synthesizer
/ Roland Synthesizer / Prophet 5 / Mini Moog / 12 String Guitar / Acoustic
Guitar / Yamaha CP-80 Electric Piano / Fender Rhodes / Emulator / Drums /
percussion / Sitar / Santool / Tambra / Harp / Wave Beam / Flute and Taiko
(Japanese) Drums. Kitaro was born in Japan on 4 February 1953 in the Toyohashi,
Aichi-Ken Perfecture with the given family name of Masanori Takahashi. He
has lived in the U.S. for the past several years on a 180-acre spread outside
Boulder, Colorado a studio/home big enough to hold a 70-piece orchestra named
Mochi (rice cake) House. Kitaro also maintains a home in his homeland where
he returns each year (August-full moon) to perform his Taiko drum marathon,
from dusk to sunrise, at the base of Mt. Fuji. (Excerpts from Domo Records
and Best of Kitaro Vol. 2 album jacket cover.) Living at the foot of Mt.
Fuji in a house surrounded by woodlands, Kitaro creates his music with the
freedom and intensity of a child at play. The synthesizer, which he learned
in Europe, enables him to work alone in his studio, inventing sound that
reflects his years of travels and contemplation. Harmony springs from his
contradictions: sounds from hundred-year old stringed instruments weave through
his synthesizer imaginings. The cultures and instruments of Japan, India,
China and Europe join and are embraced in his music. Throughout Asia, his
concerts are major events. Millions come to see Kitaro perform his magic,
and he has played to concert audiences of more than 50,000 in Japan, Hong
Kong, China, Malaysia and elsewhere. (Excerpts the 1985 LP album cover) THE
MESSENGER One came upon him not too late Just in time to meditate. Immersed
in angelic harmonies Of the spheres. Realizing this Heaven and Earth Must
be shared With the souls of spiritual children everywhere. Charles E. Guffey
1998 For those who have followed Kitaro's work from his early days,
I feel envy. For some of you are aware of the pervading simple theme that
encompasses all aspects of his connate awareness expressed musically, without
words, leaving room for individual interpretations & and most importantly,
personal growth. And for those who have recently discovered Kitaro, the following
messages will allow for personal interpretations without creating additional
muddy water to wade through, coming to your own conclusions, if any. However,
each album is described in summary pointing to the album theme. You could
find that he is consistent and persistent in relaying an enlightened message
whether from album jacket covers, record titles, or Kitaro's poems, but most
importantly from his music. There is no width, depth or length to Kitaro's
music it just there, comparable to the Universe, resembling each one of us.
With no beginning and with no end. There is neither a Mysterious Island nor
shadows if one wishes to see. As Benjamin Franklin stated in Poor Richard's
Almanac, Well done is better than well said. This statement simply defines
the results of Kitaro's wordless musical ability and the (magic) positive
affects it has on people's lives from all walks of life, as hosts on this
Planet from beyond creation we call home. There are no metaphors like word-forms
or labels to describe or define Kitaro or the music he produces. Whatever
joy there is in this world all comes from desiring others to be happy, and
whatever suffering there is in this world all comes from desiring myself
to be happy. (Shantideva. Buddhist Monk at Nalanda University in the 7th/8th
century) And Kitaro's Japanese nickname translates to A much happy man. Klaus
Schultz, originator of the German musical group Tangerine Dream and early
teacher for Kitaro on keyboards said, & Music to me is the background
to a mental picture, but the listener must make the exact interpretation,
hence the music is only half composed and the listener himself should attack
the composition to gain a mental repercussion & Some people don't invest
effort into things if no material profit is to be had, unaware of the mental
joys. In Japan the word 'music' (ongaku) translates to 'enjoy the sound'.
Kitaro states, "I simply want people to enjoy the music. That's what
I want the audience to do." Again, welcome to the site dedicated exclusively
as an independent source in providing, as complete as possible, Kitaro's
entire thirty year musical career collection available in CD, Cassette, VHS,
DVD, VCD and LP series. Also, the information contained herein will be more
than adequate to fill any individual thirst for information about Kitaro
and his or her quest for his discography releases. Kitaro Music will refrain
from the frenzy of relaying media or fan information and/or misinformation,
interpretations and reviews of Kitaro, or discography ratings of his albums
beyond the printed word from Kitaro's record publishing companies &Thinking
of You. Currently, Kitaro's Musical Assembly Includes:
Digitally remastered compilations of hard to find older works Golden Globe
Award HEAVEN & EARTH movie soundtrack Award winning movie soundtrack
THE SOONG SISTERS video New documentary sound track release of AN ANCIENT
JOURNEY Plus the new video release of TAMAYURA and Yakushiji-CD performance
in Nara, Japan. 'Spirit
House-The Compass of Musics' A book written by Charles
E. Guffey "My music comes from a power beyond myself, it
is not from my mind. My music is from Heaven; it goes through my body and
out my fingers when I compose. The songs I write are not my songs, they are
music for everyone. So is this book, it is not Charles Guffey's
book, it is a book for everyone and his writing comes from a power beyond
himself. His writing, like my music, is one for all mankind
to enjoy and appreciate - it is his gift for everyone, as are my songs." --- Kitaro July
2002 This narrative is a chronicle of special moments shared with many
messengers of this planet from a meeting place prearranged for them and for
himself. It all began with Mr. Guffey's desire for deeper knowledge of self
after finding himself in an untenable business environment, resigned
to minimum compensation, and bombarded by every manner of confrontation,
obstacle and hardship. Spirit House chronicles this man's spiritual
odyssey. It is a journal of self-discovery prompted by every manner
of encounter with strangers from all walks of life made possible by the catalytic
presence of Kitaro's mystical mandalas of sound. It is hoped that after a
reader's encounter with Spirit House, that the cosmic signs (which
are in front of us at all times!) will begin to be made visible, helping
you along your way Thinking and Destiny Being the Science of Man Written
by Harold W. Percival In Thinking and Destiny, something new - although
older than time - is now made known to the world - about Consciousness. No
student or teacher of metaphysics, no leader of a modern school of thought,
no minister or priest of Ancient or modern religions, no critic of whatever
other qualifications can fail to marvel at the wealth of detailed information
on numerous subjects treated or fail to wonder ¨ until he has absorbed the
portions on Consciousness ¨ how the author obtained the information which
he presents with crystal clarity. The information is largely about the makeup
of the human, where man comes from, what becomes of him; it explains what
thinking is; it tells how a thought is created, and how thoughts are exteriorized
(manifested) into acts, objects and events, and how they make destiny. "My
music comes from a power beyond myself, it is not from my mind. My music
is from Heaven; it goes through my body and out my fingers when I compose.
The songs I write are not my songs, they are music for everyone. So
is this book, it is not Charles Guffey's book, it is a book for everyone
and his writing comes from a power beyond himself. His writing,
like my music, is one for all mankind to enjoy and appreciate - it is his
gift for everyone, as are my songs." --- Kitaro July
2002 This narrative is a chronicle of special moments shared with many
messengers of this planet from a meeting place prearranged for them and for
himself. It all began with Mr. Guffey's desire for deeper knowledge of self
after finding himself in an untenable business environment, resigned
to minimum compensation, and bombarded by every manner of confrontation,
obstacle and hardship. Spirit House chronicles this man's spiritual
odyssey. It is a journal of self-discovery prompted by every manner
of encounter with strangers from all walks of life made possible by the catalytic
presence of Kitaro's mystical mandalas of sound. Light
of the Spirit
World Tour Brochure (1987) .
Kitaro's 1987 World Tour Concert was accompanied by a beautiful 18-page brochure
titled "An Evening with Kitaro". This tour book was printed on
premium paper depicting scenes from nature with quotes from the I-Ching and
some personal notes on Kitaro. Kitaro presents the forward with, "This
is the place where my spiritual journey started. Therefore this must be the
place where deep inside my spirit has been rooted" (Summer, 1987
at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Japan). This book was presented by Hitachi and has
been printed in both Japanese and English. Available in very limited quantities
T-shirt, Ancient (2002)
This black T-shirt is only available in a large size and imprinted with the
album design and Ancient symbol. KCM10812|Ancient
T-shirt|$25.00|$3.00|$15.00 Tour Pin (2002) This collector's
pin is one inch in diameter depicting Kitaro's silhouette performing on a
Native American flute live in Yakushiji-Daylight,
Moonlight in this temple in Nara, Japan. This pin was
issued to commemorate the beginning of Kitaro's 2002.8 USA tour which began
in Anaheim, California. It is hoped that after a reader's encounter with Spirit
House, that the cosmic signs (which are in front of us at all times!)
will begin to be made visible, helping you along your way From the
Table of Contents: Chapter II The Purpose and Plan of the Universe ¨ Theories
concerning the destiny of the soul ¨ Eternal Order of Progression ¨ The 'fall
of man.' Chapters V ¨ VIII Physical Destiny, Psychic Destiny, Mental Destiny
and Noetic Destiny "Domo Records Presents" Gaia
Onbashira Brochure (1998) This four-page brochure was published
in 1998 dedicated to eighteen of Kitaro's musical accomplishments presented
by Domo Records at that time. The cover is a picture of Gold Lake outside
Kitaro's mountain home - studio in Colorado. In the fold-out, below each
of these album covers is a synopsis of the theme of that album. Page four
is dedicated to a the musical life of Kitaro and introducing his latest release Gaia
Onbashira. KCM10807|Gaia Brochure|$10.00|$3.00|$15.00 Mandala World
Tour Brochure (1994) Kitaro's 1994 World Tour Concert was
accompanied by this beautiful 16 page color brochure printed on premium paper
depicting images that embody the many influences. Included are personal quotes
from Kitaro. This tour book has been printed in English. Available in very
limited quantities. KCM10803|Mandala WTB|$35.00|$3.00|$15.00 Kojiki World
Tour Brochure (1990) . Kojiki: A Story in Concert From Kitaro's
1990 World Tour Concerts: This tour was presented by JVC and Amuse America,
Inc. The concert was accompanied by a graphic (7'x20') 36-page book, printed
on premium paper, depicting copies of old Japanese prints describing this
famous myth of the creation of Yamato (Japan) though the new dawn. At the
back of this tour book are "Eleven Steps Toward a More Beautiful World" depicting
Kitaro's albums under the Geffen Records label: Kojiki, Best
of Ten Years, The
Light of the Spirit CD & VHS, Tenku, Toward
the West, Asia, Silver
Cloud, India, Millennia, Full
Moon Story, and Astral
Voyage. This book has been printed in both Japanese and English.
Available in very limited quantities
ALL ROADS
LEAD TO ROME ACROSS THE KARAKUM DESERT ACROSS THE PAMIR COLLECTION, DVD COLLECTOR'S
BOX SET
