On the morning of 29th November 2005, a black plastic case containing an amanoiwafue (a natural stone flute) disappeared from the luggage rack of an Amsterdam-bound train from Paris Gare du Nord. The seat number was 55, carriage number 18. By the time the theft was noticed the train had already passed Antwerp, but the case may have been stolen before the train left the Gare du Nord. The playing of these stone flutes was prohibited by the command of Prince Karunomiko many centuries ago, and their sound was thus lost to history. All that remained was the oral tradition that shamanic ceremonies were carried using windblown ‘ Mogari’ flutes in a sacred sanctuary modeled after seven stars in the heavens. This flute had been passed down in secret from generation to generation. Now, a mere twenty-eight years after it was entrusted to its current guardian, it has gone. This flute has great historical significance for Noh culture as well, and we can only pray that it is soon returned to the hands of its guardian “Akio Suzuki”.

info@amanoiwafue.com