Choichi Terukina (Japanese: 照喜名朝一, Terukina Chōichi, 15 April 1932 – 10 September 2022) was a Japanese Ryukyuan classical musician and sanshin grandmaster.

Choichi Terukina
照喜名朝一
Born	(1932-04-15)15 April 1932 Chinen, Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Died	10 September 2022(2022-09-10) (aged 90) Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Citizenship	Japanese
Years active	1957–2022
Organization	Ryukyu Koten Afuso-ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai
Children	1

Early life

Terukina was born in Okinawa on 15 April 1932. When he was 6 years old, he started playing the sanshin, an Okinawan three-stringed instrument.[1] At age 25, Terukina started formal sanshin lessons under Haruyuki Miyazato, a sanshin master.[2][3] Miyazato's lessons relied more on imitating the teacher's music rather than reading off of musical notes, which is an essential part of uta-sanshin, the style of playing that Terukina taught.

Career

In 1960, Terukina opened his first sanshin dojo, teaching students the Afuso Ryu style of uta-sanshin.[2] He has taught hundreds of students throughout his career as a sanshin grandmaster.[2] In 2000, Terukina was designated as a Living National Treasure of Japan for his mastery of Ryukyuan classical music (koten).[4]

Terukina was the leader of the organization Ryukyu Koten Afuso-ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai, which has 1,300 members worldwide.[1][2]

Terukina played at Carnegie Hall in 2019. This was for his 88th lunar birthday, which is a special date in the Okinawan culture known as beiju.[5]

Personal life and death

Terukina had a son named Tomokuni, who also plays the sanshin.[6] Choichi Terukina died at his home in Naha City on 10 September 2022, at the age of 90.[7]

References

External links

• Choichi Terukina discography at Discogs

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