Kinden School (琴伝流)
Kinden school is the largest school of taishogoto (Taisho lyre) in Japan which have more than four hundred thousand members and more than ten thousand teachers throughout Japan. The school is operated by Nihon Violin Kenkyusho Taishogoto Zenkoku Fukyukai and the official name of the organization is Kindenryu Taishogoto Zenkoku Fukyukai (Extension Association of Kinden school of Taishogoto).
Head Office Address
14-545, Aza Fukuoka, Ako, Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture 399-4117
Access
By railway
From Inafukuoka Station, Iida Line, Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central,, aka, JR Tokai), approximately twenty minutes on foot
By car
From the Komagane Interchange, Chuo Expressway, approximately fifteen minutes driving south on Ina Koiki Nodo route
Classrooms operated by headquarters throughout Japan
* As of April 2005
Head Office Factory
Tohoku Headquarters (Akashi Bldg. 2nd Floor, 3-40, Hirosecho, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, 980-0873)
Kanto Headquarters (7-8, Owadacho 4-chome, Hachioji City, Tokyo Prefecture 192-0045)
Tokai Headquarters (Shuzui Bldg. 2nd FLOOR, 16-22, Kanayama 2-chome, Naka Ward, Nagoya City, 460-0022)
Kanazawa Classroom (17-27, Musashimachi, Kanazawa City, 920-0855)
Kansai Headquarters (Miyuki Bldg. 9th Floor, 15-13, Toganocho, Kita Ward, Osaka City 530-0056)
Kyoto Classroom (Nakatsuka Bldg. 3rd Floor, 1 Karahashi Nishi Hiragakicho, Minami Ward, Kyoto City, 601-8468)
Kobe Classroom (Marushin Bldg. 4th Floor, 12-17, Motomachidori 3-chome, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, 650-0022)
Chugoku Headquarters (Kamoi Bldg. 1st and 2nd Floors, 2-4, Ekimaecho 2-chome, Kita Ward, Okayama City, 700-0023)
Kyushu Headquarters (ZZZ-2 Bldg. 1/4 Floors, 6-14, Yakuin 1-chome, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City 810-0022)
Main features
It broke new ground with its taishogoto music ensemble not seen at any other schools.
(In addition to conventional soprano, it developed three types of taishogoto, alto, tenor and bass, in the latter half of the 1970's.)
With this, it took the first step on a new music culture. By making the most of their dominance as the largest schools, it set lower prices for taishogoto and accessories than other schools and makes various efforts so that people of all ages and both sexes can enjoy taishogoto. Also, it has been holding concerts throughout Japan for providing opportunities for students to show the results of daily practice. It has been providing a large number of people a place to hear the beautiful sound of taishogoto (music ensemble) from local school performances to prefecture and nationwide assemblies.
At the head office, in addition to an observation tour of the manufacturing processes of taishogoto, taishogoto of each generation (which ranges from the original taishogoto invented by Goro MORITA to the present one), old sheets of music and record albums are displayed allowing people to learn the history of taishogoto. Visitors to this place, if they wish, will have an opportunity to perform taishogoto, and if visitors want to start learning taishogoto, the staff will introduce instructors of Kinden school from various places nationwide.
Although taishogoto and accessories (scores, amplifiers, cables, tuners, various spare parts, etc.) are not available in normal stores, they can be purchased through the company homepage.
From 2006, in order to foster the next generation of players who will promote the music culture of taishogoto, a 'Nationwide Children's Taishogoto Contest,' open to players from any school was launched and the 'Taishogoto Ongaku Taisho' was established, and is given to the singer who sings the song most liked by taishogoto fans. The winner of the first 'Taishogoto Ongaku Taisho' in 2006 was Saburo KITAJIMA (for the song 'Fusetsu Nagaretabi') followed by Masafumi AKIKAWA (for the song 'Sen no kazeni natte') in 2007.
In 2008, 2,864 members of Kinden school broke its own Guinness record for largest group performance of taishogoto (record before that was 1,034 players). The biggest taishogoto in the world, with a total length of 210.5 cm, and weight of 23.2 kg was awarded a Guinness record; eventually, Kinden became a two Guinness records holder..
From May to June 2008, taishogoto by Kindenryu school was adopted for 'Sky Channel' (in-flight music for international flight) by All Nippon Airways (ANA).