Affordable - A good bamboo flute costs more than $300 plus shipping fee from Japan. Many beginners in Japan start with a plastic shinobue to see what it is like and learn the fundamentals.
Timely - Most good shinobue artisans have a waiting list and you may have to wait for months for your bamboo flute to arrive.
Easy to clean - Just clean with tap water and air dry (You can share it with family and friends!)
No urushi (poison ivy) lacqure is used.
Many people buy Suzuki shinobues as back-up shinobues for traveling. You can leave Suzuki shinobues in your car. (You should NEVER leave your bamboo shinobues in a car unattended.)
I stand by the Suzuki quality - I have personally tried 3 other plastic shinobue brands and Suzuki sounds the BEST. It has a lovely tone (especially 6 hon choshi), and it is easy to produce high notes.
“Suzuki 6 hon choshi arrived early and in time for me to share it with our practice group. Everyone was impressed with the sound quality of the Suzuki 6 hon choshi compared to the authentic 7 hon choshi bamboo shinobue we’ve been using. The lower tone is actually nicer than the 7 hon choshi bamboo shinobue.”
International orders: Since my shipment will take 4-8 weeks for delivery, I suggest that you contact the following official Suzuki resellers and check for faster delivery and better pricing (I have not personally purchased anything from them).
Europe:
Bravo Musik: https://bravomusik.eu/shop/search-1.html?keyword=suzuki+shinobue
OR
Suzuki Europe: http://www.suzukimusic.co.uk/contact.html
Canada:
Empire Music: https://empiremusic.ca/pages/contact
“I received the Suzuki shinobue, and it plays very well. I have a No.7 bamboo shinobue purchased in Japan, and I plan to use the Suzuki when I travel. The Suzuki has a nice sound and is well-made. Thank you for offering it.”
