Curriculum Vitae for Joshua M. Smith, Phd

Educator, researcher, and musical artist. American-born. Lived in Japan for over 12 years and recently returned to the Buffalo, NY area. Fluent in both Japanese and English. Doctorate in cultural sociology/ethnomusicology from Osaka University. Expert in shakuhachi (traditional Japanese bamboo flute) with concerts, workshops, CDs, international awards and teaching experience. Continuing academic research interests in various topics of music sociology and Japanese culture. Continuing artistic interest in composing and performing on shakuhachi in both traditional and contemporary formats.

E-mail: sumisujoshu@hotmail.com
Website: http://grand-island-serene-gardens.com
Home Address: 61 The Commons, Grand Island NY 14072
Home Telephone: (716) 774-1019

Miscellaneous Personal Information

Date of Birth: 9 January 1978
Marital Status: Married with one child
Nationality: United States citizen

Osaka University, Japan. Graduate School of Human Sciences
Degree: Ph.D. in Sociology (2010)
Focus of Study: Sociology of Culture
Thesis Topic: "Modernization in the Shakuhachi Art World"

Osaka University, Japan. Graduate School of Human Sciences
Degree: Master of Science in Sociology (2006)
Focus of Study: Music Sociology
Thesis Topic: "Shaped by the Wind: Artistic and Cultural
Identity Formation of Shakuhachi Players"

Osaka University, Japan. Graduate School of Human Sciences
Research Student in Sociology (2004-2005)
Focus of Study: Sociology and Japanese Popular Culture

Osaka YMCA Gakuin, Japan
Certification: Advanced Japanese Language (2003-2004)

Buffalo State College (State University of New York)
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Humanities (2000)
Focus of Study: Japanese Language and Culture
Certification: Buffalo State Graduate Studies, Center for Creative Studies (2000)

Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka, Japan
Exchange Student (1998-1999)

University at Buffalo (State University of New York)
Visiting Student (1998-2000)
Japanese Language Courses

Erie Community College, Buffalo, N.Y.
Degree: Associate of Science in Criminal Justice (1998)

Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, Buffalo, N.Y.
Degree: High School Diploma (1996)

Related Academic Credentials
• Japanese language (2nd level, Japanese Proficiency Test, 2002)

Buffalo State College (SUNY)
Lecturer (2011)

Guest Lecturer in Ethnomusicology
Buffalo State College – State University of New York (February 2006)
Teaching Assistant, Osaka University, School of Human Sciences, Osaka, Japan
Sociology of Food Culture in Japan (2007-2008)
Tutor, Osaka University, School of Human Sciences, Osaka, Japan
Private instruction in sociology, Japanese language, and Japanese culture with international graduate students (2007-2009)
Shakuhachi (Bamboo Flute) Instruction, Nara, Japan (2 locations, Grand Island, NY, Online via SKYPE)
Private and Small Group Lessons taught in both Japanese and English (2007-Present)
English Language Instruction, Nara, Japan
Private and small group lessons (2007-present)
English Language Instruction, Osaka, Japan
Private and small group lessons (2003-2007)
Berlitz Japan, Inc., Osaka, Japan
English Language Teacher (2003-2005)
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) West Corporation, Osaka, Japan
English instruction for presentation (2004)
Hyogo Board of Education (JET Program), Ono High School, Hyogo, Japan
English Language Teacher (2000-2003)
Kakogawa International Center, Hyogo, Japan
English Language Teacher, small group classes of advanced students (2001)

Academic Publications
• Book: Smith, Joshua M. The Art of the Shakuhachi: The World’s Attraction to the Japanese Bamboo Flute. (Forthcoming,2011). U-Time Publishing Co.,LTD. Osaka, Japan.
• Book Chapter (#6): Smith, Joshua M. “The Hybridization of a Musical Tradition: Transnationalization and Globalization's Affect on Modern Shakuhachi Player's Values.” In Tito Genova Valiente and Hiroko Nagai (Eds.). (2009).
Transnationalizing Culture of Japan in Asia: Dramas, Musics, Arts and Agencies. Quezon City: Japanese Studies Program, Ateneo de Manila University.
• Journal Article: “Searching for a Musical Identity: The Changing Values of Contemporary Shakuhachi Players.” The New York Sociologist, Vol. 3, 54-67, December (2008).
[http://newyorksociologist.org/vol3.html]
• Journal Article with Ito Kimio: Imagined Japan 05: Acceptance of Japanese Pop Culture in Foreign Countries, and Current Japanese Studies, Osaka University, The 21st Century COE Program Interface Humanities (2006)
• A series of monthly bilingual articles for the Nara International Film Festival entitled “Shakuhachi and the Culture of Nara.” (http://joshu-an.com/blog/?cat=3) , [http://www.nara-iff.jp/]. (February 2009 - present)

• "Changing Values in Contemporary Shakuhachi Music." The New York State Sociological Association Conference, Buffalo, NY (2008)
• “The Hybridization of a Musical Tradition: Transnationalization and Globalization's Affect on Modern Shakuhachi Player's Values.” Ateneo De Manila University. (2008)
• "The Changing Shakuhachi Tradition and Younger Players Today." Columbia University, New York City (2006)

• Doctoral Scholarship (2007-2009). Sponsored by Honjo International Scholarship Foundation (Itoen Tea Company)
• Research and Conference Grant, International Symposium, Ateneo de Manila University (2008). Sponsored by The Japan Foundation
• Tuition Grant, Sai Charenji Shien Program, Osaka University Graduate School of Human Sciences (2005-2010). Sponsored by Japanese Ministry of Education

• Theme: Ancient shakuhachi instrumentsStatus: Research underway with Shimura Satoshi, Professor of Music, Osaka University of Arts
• Theme: History of Taimadera temple, with focus on Princess Chujo and “Koya-san for Women”
Status: Research underway, including original translations and never-before-published historical information
• Theme: Ethnomusicological comparisons and parallels between the Japanese shakuhachi and the Native American flute
Status: Preliminary research underway
• Theme: Parallel/complimentary roles of the supportive role of music in meditation, focusing on practices of traditional Eastern and Western forms of spirituality (comparing Buddhist art forms of shakuhachi and shomyo and the Christian art form of Gregorian chant)
Status: Preliminary research underway
• Theme: Application of sociological theories of art world and habitus to traditional Japanese musical arts (including instruments such as shamisen, koto and biwa and musical genres including shomyo and gagaku) with parallels to shakuhachi
Status: Preliminary research underway
• Theme: Spiritual pilgrimages, with a focus on musicians who make musical pilgrimages
Status: Research continuing

Music Awards and Achievements

• Master Performer: Taimadera Temple-Naka no Bou, Nara, Japan (February 10, 2009, with continuing monthly performances) [This is the first time the title of “master performer” has been given to a non-Japanese person]
• Second place award, World Shakuhachi Competition (S-1 Grand Prix Young Players Competition Final’s Concert), World Shakuhachi Festival, Sydney, Australia. (July 5, 2008)
• Performances and shakuhachi offerings at all of the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. [I walked the entire pilgrimage of 1,400 kilometers / 870 miles in 2007]
• Solo Shakuhachi CDs
“Mahoroba” (utopia) featuring traditional shakuhachi meditations and original pieces (2010)
“Hakuho-on” (“Sound of the White Phoenix”) featuring traditional shakuhachi meditation pieces and original pieces (2008)
• Duo CD with Shiho Kimura, “Japanesque Sounds” featuring original compositions for shakuhachi and koto (in production 2010)
• Self-titled CD “Kurofune” featuring original compositions for shakuhachi duets, piano and electro-acoustic instruments with Izukawa Hidefumi (spring 2009)
• Kurofune’s 2nd CD release “Shippu” (September) with Izukawa Hidefumi
• Soundtrack for CD and DVD, “The Deeper Meditation Audio Course” produced by Tom Von Deck (2009-2010) (Denver, Colorado)

2010
• Nara Heijyo Sentosai Festival (Nara’s 1300th year anniversary), Imperial Palace Site, Nara, Japan
• Guest Performer, Kumamoto Shakuhachi Festival, Kumamoto, Japan
• Featured performer/lecturer for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering of over 30 ambassadors in Nara, Japan
• Katsuragi City Historical Museum, “The World of Shakuhachi”
• National Historical Park Site of the Ishibutai (Stone Stage) Area in Asuka, private outdoor concert during Cherry blossom festival. This started Kurofune’s national tour including Tokyo, Akita, Nagoya, Gifu, Fukui…
• World Music Day, Nara, Japan, in association with the French Consulate-General
• Naraza, Opening Concert, Nara, Japan
2009
• Performances at Temples and Shrines - Ichijoji Temple, Taimadera Temple (Nakanobou), Kounji Temple, Myouhouji Temple, Fuefuki Shrine, etc.
• ISMIR2009 in Kobe, Japan
• Atagozaka Lighting Festival Fall – Tachibana Akemi Museum, Fukui, Japan
• Opening Event for the 40th Annual Nara Prefecture Arts, Nara, Japan
• The Buffalo (NY) Zen Dharma Community
• Performance at Suisha Gardens Japanese restaurant, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
• Burchfield Penny Art Center, Buffalo, NY, including North American premiere of “Sakura”
• Performance and lecture at Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY
• NHK National Radio Interview and Performance, Japan
• Naracafe Youan – Seasonal Concert Series, Nara, Japan
• Pre-event for the Takefu International Music Festival, Fukui, Japan
• Nara Heijyo Sentosai Festival at the Nara Imperial Palace Site, Nara, Japan
• Shakuhachi and guitar duo performance with Anthony Garcia of Australian during his Japan tour, French Restaurant “Tsujijin.” supported by Australian Trade Commission, Nara, Japan
• Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, Japan
2008
• Osaka International Music Festival, Osaka, Japan
• Performances at Temples and Shrines - Ichijoji Temple, Taimadera Temple (Nakanobou), Fuefuki Shrine, etc.
• Naracafe Youan – Seasonal Concert Series, Nara, Japan
• NHK Osaka Radio Interview and Performance, Osaka, Japan
• Futakami Cultural Center - Performance/lecture on "The Shakuhachi and Japanese Culture", Nara, Japan
• World Shakuhachi Festival, Sydney, Australia
• Firefly Festival, Nara, Japan
• Osaka University of Arts, Osaka, Japan
• Honjyo International Scholarship Foundation (Itoen) New Year’s Party, Tokyo, Japan
• Ateneo de Manila University – Performance and lecture on "The Hybridization of a Musical Tradition: Changes in the Values of Shakuhachi Players,” Manila, Philippines

• Nanto Bank. Specially featured under the bank’s advertising theme of traditional artists. Used at over 200 locations (June – August 2010)
• NHK Radio, Tokyo. National broadcast of 1-hour live interview on the “Radio Vitamin” show (April 6, 2010)
• Asahi Broadcasting Channel. Kinki Region television interview/special. “News You Plus” segment (10 minutes) (June 1, 2010)
• Nara Nichi Shinbun. Newspaper feature interview (July, 2010)
• Nihon Keizai Shinbun (Nikkei). Newspaper interview and online audio presentation (February 10, 2010) (https://kansai-concierge.nikkei.co.jp/kansai/ngraphy/detail.asp?wrt_cd=7401)
• Shukan Shincho (Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd.). Magazine article (2 pages) (National, Weekly: December 10, 2009)
• Naranto (N.I. Planning Co., Ltd.). Magazine article (6 pages, color) (Winter Season: December 1, 2009)
• WNED, Buffalo NY (National Public Radio), Radio Interview (7.5 minutes) (August 20, 2009)
• WBFO, Buffalo NY (National Public Radio), Radio interview (3.5 minutes) (August 13, 2009)
• Sankei Shinbun, Newspaper feature interview (June 13, 2009)
• NHK, Nara Japan (National Public Television)
“Discovering Nara (Ii Nara Hakken),” TV interview (7 minutes) (November, 2008) http://joshu-an.com/media/mov1.html
• Asahi Shinbun Company, Newspaper feature interview (October 13, 2008)
• Nara Shinbun, Newspaper feature interview (October 9, 2008)
• Nara Nichi, Newspaper feature interview (September 10, 2008)
• Sankei Shinbun, Newspaper feature interview (August 23, 2008)
• Nara Nichi, Newspaper feature interview (June 24, 2008)
• Nara Nichi, Newspaper feature interview (June 21, 2008)
• The Yomiuri Shinbun, Newspaper article (June 13, 2008)
• Yomikko – Yomiuri Nara Life. Magazine article (4 pages, color) (June, 2008)
• Sankei Shinbun, Newspaper article (May 23, 2008)

• The International Shakuhachi Society. Member (2005-Present)
• Komuso Kenkyukai (Komuso Research Group). Member (2005-Present)
• Shakuhachi Forum (World Shakuhachi Discussion). Moderator (2007-Present)
• New York State Sociological Association. Member (2008-Present)
• The Society for Research in Asiatic Music (Tôyô Ongaku Gakkai, TOG). Member (2009-Present)
• International Association of Buddhist Studies. Member (2010-Present)
• Society for Ethnomusicology, Niagara Chapter. Member (2010-Present)
• The Association for Asian Studies. Member (2010-Present)

• Bilingual Japanese/English Book: Smith, Joshua M. “The Art of the Shakuhachi: The World’s Attraction to this Japanese Bamboo Flute.” (Forthcoming, Winter 2010). U-Time Publishing Co.,LTD, Osaka, Japan
• A series of monthly bilingual articles related to shakuhachi and the culture of Nara. (http://joshu-an.com/blog/?cat=3) , (February 2009 - present)
• Osaka University, Osaka, Japan (2005-2007). Translation of international presentations and journal articles for faculty
• Nara International Film Festival, Nara, Japan (2008-2009). Translation of questionnaires, survey results, fliers and web pages, television commercial voice-overs
• Daiko Shokai Ltd., Osaka, Japan (2004-present). Translation of marketing brochures and business e-mails
• Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) West Corporation, Osaka, Japan (2004). Translation of marketing pamphlet and international presentation materials
• Taimadera Temple, Nara, Japan (2009-present). Translation of information brochures and historical information for website

• Ordained Koyasan Shingon Sect Buddhist Priest (December 2009), Taimadera Temple, Nakanobo
• Taimadera Temple, Nara, Japan (2009-present). Lectures in both English and Japanese on topics including meditation, history and culture
• Authorized teacher, International Shakuhachi Training Center (Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan), Yokoyama/Style Kinko School of Shakuhachi (2009). Permission to teach and perform the shakuhachi of the Kinko School, given by Okada Michiaki
• Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido (2004). 4th degree black belt


Back to Josh's Main Acadademic Page
Josh's Shakuhachi and Music Related Profile